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Mishpatim (Judgements)
29 JAN
2011
Ex
21:1-24:18
Jeremiah
34:8-22, 33:25-26
Mathew
5:38-42
The
children of Israel receive a series of laws concerning social justice.
Topics include: proper treatment of Jewish servants; a husband’s
obligations to his wife; penalties for hitting people and for cursing
parents, judges and leaders; financial responsibilities for damaging
people or their property, either by oneself or by one’s animate or
inanimate property, or by pitfalls that one created; payments for theft;
not returning an object that one accepted responsibility to guard; the
right to self-defense of a person being robbed.
Other
topics include: prohibitions against seduction; witchcraft, bestiality
and sacrifices to idols. The Torah warns us to treat the convert, widow
and orphan with dignity, and to avoid lying. Usury is forbidden and the
rights over collateral are limited. Payment of obligations to the
Temple should not be delayed, and the Jewish people must be holy, even
concerning food. The Torah teaches the proper conduct for judges in
court proceedings. The commandments of Shabbat and the Sabbatical year
are outlined. Three times a year-Pesach, Shavuot, and Succoth-we are to
come to the Temple. The Torah concluded this listing of laws with a law
of kashrus-not to cook “milk and meat together”.
HaShem
promises that He will lead His people to the Land of Israel, helping
them conquer its inhabitants, and tells them that by fulfilling His
commandments they will bring blessings to their nation. The people
promise to do and listen to everything that HaShem says. Moshe writes
the Book of the Covenant, and reads it to the people
In the
Torah we read and find where one’s every thought and action can be
suffused with holiness. Nothing in this world is devoid of the
opportunity to be used to elevate ourselves and mankind. No activity is
beyond the potential for holiness. This is what the world mistakes for
“ritualism” and “legalism.” There is no such thing as a secular world
versus a religious world. In the Torah there is no such thing as
“church versus state.” For there is nowhere in this world that is
devoid of G-d. Every single thing in this world has the potential to be
used, or refrained from, in the ascent of man to his Creator.
“If
something literally had “no use” it would also have no ability to
exist. For that which is truly useless has no merit to be, and, by
definition could not exist.”
These
readings represent the spiritual cleansing that must take place in the
heart of every person to become worthy of the Exodus from Egypt. We
have to rid ourselves of jealousy, lust and pride before we can become
worthy of the title “Am Ha Kodosh,” Godly, holy nation.
We need
a “circumcised heart.” Deut 30:6
Jer.
31:31-33 having the Torah written on our hearts “new covenant”.
We need
to become holy or are to be a separate people. HaShem commands us to be
an Am HA Kodesh.
Ex
22:29-3, Lev.11:44; You shall be holy people to me (1Peter 1:16), thus
God blesses us. Ex 20:6; “showing kindness to the thousand generations
of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Our
Messiah himself stated:
John
14:15; “If you love Me you will keep My commandments”
John
15:10; “If you keep My commandments you shall abide in My love”.
Shavua
Tov
Rabbi Z
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