Parashat Shoftim: A Painting, a Tree, and Identity

In the exploration of Parashat Shoftim, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik delves into the profound themes of identity and duality, drawing parallels between J.M.W. Turner's painting "Rain, Steam, and Speed – The Great Western Railway" and the Torah's teachings. Turner's painting, a vivid depiction of the industrial revolution, captures the tension between human innovation and nature, symbolizing the dual nature of humanity. This duality is mirrored in the Torah's ambiguous verse, "ki ha-adam ets ha-sadeh," which compares humans to trees, suggesting both rootedness and exploration. Rabbi Soloveichik highlights interpretations by Rashi and Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, illustrating the complexity of human nature as both mobile explorers and beings deeply connected to their origins.