Has the government been guilty of issuing contracts to friends of ministers? And is this any concern for the Judaism page of the JC? Well yes, it is. This week’s parashah is all about law, justice and the law of the king, which sets down limits on the power of the executive branch of government.

Moses tells the people that if, after they have entered the land, they decide to have a king to rule over them, he needs to keep a copy of the law with him at all times so he can continually read it, a kind of written constitution perhaps, so he can carefully observe all of God’s teachings. He may not have more than a certain number of horses. He may not multiply his silver and gold, not have too many wives. He must not be above the law.

A hallmark of Judaism has always been the centrality of justice and the centrality of justice for religious practice. The prophet Isaiah says that if we hold lovely services yet act with injustice at the same time, then the result will be destruction and exile. Justice means you don’t discriminate, and you don’t take bribes. Bribery is forbidden because it blinds the eyes of the judge to the truth. Justice requires an honest attempt to discover the truth about the facts, whatever they may be.

The parashah begins by looking at judges. “You shall appoint judges and officials for your tribes and they will govern the people with justice” (Deuteronomy 16:18). The verse is addressed not just to those in power but to the people who appoint them. In a democracy, that’s us. It’s down to us to ensure our elected representatives govern us with justice.

It often feels like politics and justice are two very different things. But the Jewish mission is to bring the two together. It is not enough to say that we can focus exclusively on ritual and spiritual matters. It is part of our religious obligation to engage with the world and hold our leaders to account.

We need leaders who embody the principles of justice laid out here — who govern the people with due justice, not judging unfairly, not discriminating, not taking bribes. “Justice, justice shall you pursue that you may thrive and possess the land that God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:20).