 Torah Thoughts
This week we read the Torah portion Mishpatim
(Exodus 21-24). It contains 118 verses and 53 commandments- 23
positive (“do”) and 30 negative (“do not”) commandments.
Our portion deals primarily with civil and criminal law.
The Sages note the juxtaposition of the overview of our legal system (our
portion) with the altar (described at the end of last week’s portion.) Our
portion begins, “And these are the statutes that you shall place before
them…” The conjunctive “and” connects the two topics. What connection can
there be between the lofty Ten Commandments, the altar which “bridges the
divide” between man and G-d, and how much one must pay when one’s ox injures
another?
One of the major themes of Judaism is that
spirituality pervades every aspect of life. The Torah legal system that
governs the most mundane facets of existence is the same one that commands
faith in G-d.
Judaism exhorts us to take life seriously. The
Talmud teaches that one who wishes to be pious must be fully aware of the
laws of damages. Causing damage to one’s fellow, even if unintentional,
reveals a lack of sensitivity to and awareness of the other that must be
fixed and made whole. The Torah teaches that a deficiency in interpersonal
relationships reveals a defect in one’s relationship with and awareness of
G-d.
It is often easier to fulfill those commandments between
man and G-d than those between man and his fellow. G-d does not cut you off
in traffic. He does not take your parking spot or treat you with chutzpah. Those
who populate our lives are, to a certain extent, messengers of G-d. They
challenge us in one way or another and exist, in part, to elicit the most
noble traits latent in the human soul. By developing sensitivity to the
person and property of our fellow humans, and by judging failures in that
area in accordance with Torah law, we become partners with G-d in the
creation of an ideal society.
Haftara
The Haftara that usually accompanies Mishpatim is Jeremiah
34:8-22, 33:25-26. The first subject treated by our Torah portion is
the law relating to slaves, emphasizing for the Jewish People that they are
to create a society in which even the weakest and lowliest members are
protected. In the Haftara, the prophet lambastes the people of Judah
for their insensitive treatment of their slaves, breaching the instruction of
our Torah portion. G-d, while reminding the people of these laws, makes
reference to the fact that He extracted the Children of Israel from the “House of Slaves”, Egypt.
The experience of bondage in Egypt
should have implanted sensitivity to human suffering in all the generations
of Israel.
That lesson, however, was lost on the aristocracy of Judah. Since they had failed to
transcend the apparently natural inclination of the strong to oppress the
weak, G-d would remove His supernatural protection and the Jews would be
subject to the destructive tempests baying at their gates.
Another excerpt from Jeremiah is appended to our Haftara
so that it ends on a positive note. G-d promises to return the exiled Jewish
People to its Land eventually, because of the covenant made with their righteous
forefathers.
Maftir
(Exodus 30:11-16)
In the time of the Sanctuary, every Jew had to give an annual donation of
half a shekel for the communal sacrifices. Even the poorest Jew was obligated
to borrow money to contribute, and the wealthiest could not give more than
half a shekel. Thus, every Jew was an equal partner in the national service
of G-d. It had to be a half shekel and not a whole one to demonstrate
that no Jew can exist alone, but that each is an essential part of a greater
whole.
The half shekel also
atones for the sin of the golden calf.
All the money collected
for this purpose had to be received by the month of Nissan. Therefore
announcements were made at the beginning of the preceding month, Adar, to
remind the people to give their contributions. For this reason we read the
portion of Shekalim on the Sabbath immediately preceding Adar or on the first
of Adar if it is a Sabbath.
Although the Temple is currently not
standing, we remain connected to the mitzvot related to it, and in a measure,
fulfill our obligation merely by reading about it. We maintain our constant
yearning to fulfill it completely very soon with the rebuilding of the Temple.
Haftara
(II Kings 12:1-17) The special Haftara (excerpt
from the Prophets) that is read on Shabbat Shekalim describes the reign of
the young king of Judah, Yeho’ash. Yeho’ash had been saved from the murderous
clutches of Queen Athalia, who had executed almost every member of the royal
family to ensure her uncontested rule. Eventually the wicked queen was overthrown
and slain.
Yeho’ash became king. He was righteous and restored the Temple to its former
glory. The king instituted a system whereby the people contributed to the Temple upkeep when they
brought sacrifices, reminiscent of the half shekel of our Torah portion.
Rosh Chodesh
The inauguration of the coming month of Adar, the
New Moon, will be celebrated on Sunday and Monday. Our Sages tell us that when
Adar is ushered in, we increase our joy. This is the month in which the
Jewish People were snatched from the claws of those who wished to annihilate
them. To commemorate our miraculous salvation and victory, we celebrate the
holiday of Purim. To learn more about Purim, click here “Purim”.
(This year, Purim begins on the night of March 3.)
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Price
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