הלכה על אבות 1:18

Laws of Judges - (Pirkei Avot 1:18) “Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: On three things is the world established - on judgement, on truth, and on peace.” Rabbeinu Yonah z”l explains: The explanation cannot be that “because of these three things the world was created,” because the beginning of the chapter said that on three things does the world stand, and these three are not listed there. Rather, first [Pirkei Avot] relates that for three things the world was created, i.e. Torah, Avodah and Gemilut Chasadim. Torah, that it says, (Proverbs 8:22) “God made me as the first of His way...” The Torah says, “I was created before all of the creations and for my sake were all creations created.” Similarly, [the world was created] because of “Avodah” because God chose Israel from all of the nations, and chose the Beit Hamikdash from all of the places, that they should serve Him in it, and for its sake to God create the world. And similarly Gemilut Chasadim, which is the middah of chesed that causes one to be approved before God. Here [Pirkei Avot] states, “...the world is established.” This means that after the world was created it is preserved through these things - that through judges that judge between people does the world continue. Because were it not for law the more powerful would conquer. And similarly truth, like it says in Shabbat 104a, that lies have no legs [to stand on] but truth is the foundation and it is a big pillar for all things. And similarly, peace, as they say in Avot (Pirkei Avot 3:2), “One should pray for the peace of the government, for were it not for the fear of government, people would swallow each other alive.”

And this commandment that we are obligated to judge is practiced by males, but not by females, as they do not judge. But nonetheless, women are included in the law of payments for everything, though there is a small difference in the claims of married women in well-known things, as we will explain in the places that we mentioned. And [it] is also practiced in every place and at all times. And a court that transgresses it and did not administer justice - if it had the power [to do so] - has violated a positive commandment. And its punishment is very great, as it causes destruction to the world - since the world is only civilized with justice. And it is like they, may their memory be blessed, said (Avot 1:18), "On three things the world stands" - and one of them is justice. And this is one of the commandments that all of the people of the world are commanded more generally, since the civilization of the world is impossible without it.