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Here is the dvar torah for parshat mishpatim. Enjoy!!
Parshat Mishpatim
As I drove for the first time after getting my permit, I stopped at a
red light. Later I went into a convenience store and bought a Mr.
Goodbar; I didn’t steal it. As part of modern society, we constantly follow
laws that affect us daily. Hopefully none of us break these laws
because they are what keep our countries safe and give us a sense of
structure and reliability. Laws are important to all communities, whether in
America, Canada, Israel, anywhere!
In this weeks Torah portion, Mishpatim, we learn the
importance of laws in a Jewish community. While the text is not the most
exciting, there is much we can learn from this portion. On the surface we
learn about murder, treatment of slaves, physical damages involving
oxen, damages incurred from holes, etc., but that is not all that this
portion is about. Most of us probably can’t even relate to this portion,
because we don’t have slaves, or oxen, or random holes that people
might fall into in our backyard!
What this portion really is saying is that laws are
necessary in every community. These laws were more applicable around the time
that the Torah was written. What has lasted from these commandments is
the idea of having laws in all societies. So while many people might
look to this portion to learn about how they should treat their slaves,
I see it quite differently. Instead, let us learn the importance of
laws in all societies, in the present and the future.
by Mordy Greenspan
IGB Rel/Ed committee