לא תכירו פנים במשפט (דברים א:יז)

You shall not show favoritism in judgment.

The holy tzaddik Rebbe Hillel of Kolomaya zt’’l related that his holy Rebbe, the Gaon, and Tzaddik Reb Mordechai Benath zt’’l fulfilled the pasuk of לא תכירו פנים במשפט literally.

He never looked at the faces of the defendants during a משפט – ruling. He used to sit draped in a tallis and tefillin immersed in learning all day in the Beis Din. When the defendants used to come, he covered his face with the tallis, listened to the complaints of both defendants, and only after giving his p’sak – ruling, and asked the defendants if they accepted his ruling, did he remove his tallis and greet them.

Filed under Parshas Devarim |