Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

We are responsible for our actions. We need to be aware of how what we do and say affects others. And any damage caused by our actions are our responsibility.

We have to determine if the enemy that we are facing is evil or not. In most wars we are facing an enemy that disagrees with us, but we can deal with them. When it comes to Amalek there is no negotiation. He wants to kill us. When faced with such an enemy the rules change.

The Torah stresses the importance of respecting private property. All successful societies share this in common. Without it we will not be able to advance as a society.

The Torah is very clear that we need a secure border to prevent idolatrous ideas from entering our nation. That is why the Torah is clear what type of stranger is allowed into the country.

The pursuit of justice is a very important concept. While we may never achieve true justice, it does not mean that we do not try. The best that we can accomplish is to pursue it.

The Torah against the danger of corruption. No matter the reason corruption will destroys whatever society it afflicts. We should avoid it whenever possible.

The Torah warns against the danger of corruption and abuse of power. This is the reason that it was quoted at the American Constitutional Convention.

We are commanded to seek justice. We know that we cannot attain it in all cases. This does not mean that we should just give up.

As we enter the month of Elul we start to get ready to be judged by God on Yom Kippur. Before we can ask God for forgiveness we have to go to our fellow man and ask for his/her forgiveness.

We are told that we should not copy the other nations, especially their ideas of morality. We have to be true to the values in the Bible, not popular whim.