From TorahVort.com
Mishpatim
Yes Yes, this week’s parshah is packed with commandments, the Parshah of Mishpatim, as it is so action packed, I have given you guys a little treat with two separate Dvar Torahs to feed you with. Just prior to the giving over of the Torah, The Jewish People received a series of laws concerning social justice. The first Topic related in this week’s reading is on the Proper treatment of Jewish and gentile servants. The parshah starts off relating that if a thief stole an item or damaged it, if they can not afford to pay the item back, they could go into a period of slavery, to pay off the debt. If the Jewish slave chose to stay with his master after 7 years, in retribution, the master would take the slave by the doorpost and bore a piercing into the slaves ear, to remind him that he is now a slave to the master and has neglected the opportunity of leaving his status of being a slave, in turn he is missing the opportunity to become a slave to Hashem instead. At the end of the day, Hashem set us free from slavery in Egypt in order that we should keep his commandments, in turn making us slaves to ‘Hashem.’ We are then introduced to the idea of the ‘Jubilee Year,’ which occurs after a 49 year cycle, all the slaves go free at that point. Also after the Jubilee year, all homes and fields are given back to the original owners. The Parshah then goes on to relate a husband’s obligations to his wife. All marriages are viewed as a two way relationship, a partnership, between husband and wife, when a couple is at harmony and in a strong relationship with each other; it is considered as if Hashems presence is resting upon them. Also advantages of a strong loving relationship between a married couple tend to strongly influence the children in the positive. The husband should always in a loving joyous manner appreciate anything the wife contributes to a relationship while the wife should do also likewise. Next up the parshah relates the different penalties for hitting people. Then the parshah relates the penalty if a child curses there parents, or if an individual/group curses judges and leaders. It is viewed by the Torah a very serious transgression. One has to honour, fear and love ones parents. One has to remember that if it was not for their parents, they would not be brought into the world. The Parshah then continues relating the financial responsibilities for damaging people or their property, either by oneself or by one's animate or inanimate property, or by pitfalls that one may have created; many of the laws and punishments are also discussed in the gemorah, Baba Kama. An individual should always take care of their property and not lead obstacles in the way, as in turn it could cause injury, pain and embarrassment. The laws of Payments for theft are then related in the reading, a penalty of a ‘double fine’ for an item if stolen. The reading then relates not returning an object that one accepted responsibility to guard and about having the right to self-defense of a person being robbed. There are four types of guards related to in this weeks reading, a paid guard, unpaid guard, renter and a borrower. The parshah relates on the laws of Prohibitions against seduction; we saw a couple of month’s back, the penalty Shechem received after the prince of the town violated Deena. Which is detailed in Parshah Vayeshev. The Parshah then talks about the punishments of commiting witchcraft, bestiality and sacrifices to idols. All three of the above transgressions are viewed as an abomination towards Hashem. The Egyptians and Canaanites were very much steeped into these abominations. The Egyptians were famous for their black magic and witchcraft, as we saw in parshah Shemot how they changed the blood back to water. In Canaan, bestiality was very much prevalent, as this is related in Parshah Kedoshim. Even the Jewish Kings were severely guilty of worshiping idols, including, Menashe, Achav and Yeravim Ben Nabot. Also in few months time we will see how 24000 Jews will die in a plague in retribution for worshiping idols at the beginning of Parshah Pinchus. The Parshah continues, describing the Three Pilgrimage festivals, taking place through out the year; Pesach, Shavuot and Succot. During these festival times, the Jews were to come to the Temple and bring sacrifices to the Temple, in the Holy City of Jerusalem. The festivals always took place in a most joyous manner, accompanied by the singing and playing musical instruments, by the Levites, it was a truly great festival time. Pesach commemorates the exodus from the land of Egypt, Shavuot, commemorates the giving of the Torah and the festival of Succot commemorates the forty years which the Jews spent in the wilderness. The journey through the wilderness was accompanied by the clouds of glory, which is one of the reasons why we dwell in ‘Succah’s’ during these festival days. Festival times aren’t just meant to be a joyous time; it’s a Shabbat for the family, bringing people together, harmonising relationships and giving group/ individuals to appreciate what we have and to appreciate Hashem. The journey of the forty years through the wilderness, really started after the giving of the Torah which we learned in last weeks reading and many of the events of what went on during these 40 years are related in the book of Bamidbar and a recap is taught in parts of the book of Devarim. The reading progresses with relating the prohibition of mixing milk and meat together. The reading also teaches us this week, if one sees there enemy unloading a donkey, while helping a friend at that specific time, load a donkey, the person helping his friend should give up what he’s doing and go to his enemy and help him unload his donkey, this is for two reasons. Firstly to alleviate the burden upon the donkey with the load on it, as that donkey will be in more pain. Also to cement and improve the relationship, with his enemy. Many in life instantly judge others on first appearance or first impressions, which is wrong, one may dislike someone else due to hear say or the way he initially acts, ultimately that individual ‘judging’ the other, should give the person a chance and invest time into him/her and it tends to be, the more one invests or is friendly with another, the more the two would grow to like each other. Which in turn, may eliminate the feelings of hatred. One should always try to be the person to initiate a conversation with another and to act in a cheerful manner. In fact, a great sage said, if one sees another they know in the street, and they don’t acknowledge the other person, via a greeting, it is a sign that the person who ignored the other, believes to be to ‘important’ to make an effort, which is a sign of arrogance. A great friend of mine in Liverpool University in England once said, one who looks at the good in all people, shows that he is good himself. Ultimately everyone has some good in them. We were all made in the image of Hashem, one has to try and bring those sparks of goodness out of these people. One should try always to search and look at the good in people!! The Parshah then relates to how G-d promised that He will lead the Jewish People to the Land of Israel, helping them conquer its inhabitants, which occurred at the time when, Joshua was the leader, as the Jews, led by Joshua won many wars against various Canaanite kings, many miracles occurred, such as the destruction of the walls of Jericho. Hashem then told them that by fulfilling His commandments they will bring blessings to their nation. Many of these blessing are related in parshah Bechukotai in the book of Vayikra. The people then promised to do and listen to everything that G-d says. They accepted the Torah whole heartedly, as one nation with one heart, everyone was united together! Over 3 million Jews!! When the Jews are united all together, it is believed that Hashem's presence rests among them much more. We will see in the megillah Esther in few weeks time over Purim, that when Esther was about to make a request off her husband, King Achashvairosh, in turn risking her life, she gathered all the Jews to unite together so to give the Jews a strong merit, for a survival of the nation. Unity is viewed as crucial, in parshah Bamidbar, we are informed how all the 12 tribes were united in the wilderness, despite each having their own attributes, they all served Hashem ultimately in their own ways. One should not discriminate between different religious sects, as long as the group is serving Hashem in their own way, and it is within the boundaries of Torah law, they should not discriminate against each other. However one also is not allowed to add or subtract to the religion! It is not permissible to change Torah Law!
The Parshah then concludes relating how Moshe wrote the Book of the Covenant, and related it to the people. Moshe then ascended the mountain to remain there for 40 days in order to receive the two Tablets of the Covenant. During these 40 days Moshe was similar to an angel, not eating or drinking anything. The Haftorah for this weeks reading is from Chapter 12 in the second book of ‘King’s (Melachim 2). This week is also Parshat Shekalim.
