This week’s parsha, Shoftim, contains one of the most famous lines in the Torah: “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – justice, justice shall you pursue.”

The Torah doesn’t just say *be* just. It says *chase justice* – to keep moving toward it even when it feels far away, even when the work is exhausting. Ibn Ezra explains the repetition: we are commanded to pursue justice whether it helps us or hurts us, whether we “gain or lose.” Justice, he teaches, isn’t about convenience. It’s about integrity.

It’s a powerful reminder that justice isn’t something that happens on its own. It takes people willing to speak up, show up, and keep pushing again and again. Even when it’s unpopular. Even when it risks making us look bad.

We know what it’s like to see progress and to see how quickly that progress can be undone. Justice isn’t just about winning once. It’s about protecting our wins and fighting for the safety and dignity of all, over and over again.

Pursuing justice is ongoing work. And in that work, our voices, our presence, and our courage matter. Together, we can keep chasing justice until it belongs to all of us.