Mishpatim in a Nutshell

"Also included are laws warning against mistreatment of foreigners"

What relationship exists between these laws and the Noahide Laws? Should Jews convert non-Jews to Bnei Noah? Reply

"These include the laws of the indentured servant"

The haftarah relates to sidrah on release of slaves.

I believe the release of slaves would indicate Jeremiah 34 was a Sabbath Year and the year before the destruction of the Temple according to Arakin,12b. Later, when Babylonians raised their siege--to attack Egypt, Ezekiel 29.1-16-- the slaves were brought back into subjection .

Ezekiel's prophecy came Tebet 12 one year after Tebet 10 siege by Nebuchadnezzar. The Temple was destroyed the next summer on Tisha b'Av. Reply

i know that there is 53 mitzvos in this parsha thats alot! Reply

Where did you get 53 mitzvot for Mishpatim when Sefer Hachinuch list only 24? Reply

"We will do and we will hear" means Israel will first obey HaShem, and then will study what the mitzvot mean--not the other way around. If a person does not fully understand the meaning, should he break a mitzvah? Who will HaShem honor? Reply

Mishpatim before the Temple and land of Israel How is the agricultural gifts that are to be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem mentioned in Mishpatim? Reply

update to old comment Attending a Shiur with our local Rabbi is so enriching! I stopped having dairy with chicken to appreciate the difference in how dairy nurtures and meat shows strength. Our weekly 1-hour Shiur encourages careful, meaningful thought, in addition to the posted commentaries. Reply

Still holds value The values of respect and responsibility that these commandments promote are timeless. Holding such values builds trust and sets expectations that knit a community together. I hardly knew my neighbors before I settled in Israel and love living here. Reply

Great resource This site is very helpful and informative. It explains the parsha in an approachable way. It's my go to resource for my monthly parsha exploration and drama games session that I do for junior congregation at my synagogue. Thank you. I'm learning a lot!!! Reply

Agreeing with Davida on fowl and milk. That never made sense to me! Nor the part of why anyone would cook an animal in milk? I suppose water was not available! Reply

"However, why give Divine commandments that only exist for a short period of time?"

This is a question I have often asked myself. Doesn't it suggest that G-d works through man and that man is an imperfect medium? G-d doesn't make mistakes, but man does. Divinely inspired men are still just men.

I too would like to know the Orthodox view on this. Reply

Nothing is outdated if understood in context. Like a truly good movie, the dynamics reveal what's right and wrong in-between the lines. Problem I find is adding practices, as if that's equal to Torah. To cook an animal in the milk created for its nurture is so heartless. To say its wrong to mix fowl and dairy takes the meaning away, since fowl don't nurture their young with milk. Torah is so easy to learn from in real context, not legalistically. Reply

Exodus 21:1–24:18 Pagan Warning I liked this line : "G‑d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants."
Pagan - "morally deficient"
My life became completely messed up because....I started having relationships with pagans. I was young; and I confused it with true love (1st love) Much of the country appears to be similar....and yet God is within it...we just need to keep searching for the same mindset (Israel's) Pledge - one nation under God, "in God we trust". How can we make it a stronger force? It's foundation is beautiful. So often we don't stop "pagan behavior" around us..until it controls just about every step we take Reply

Laws When the world is corrupt before G*d all the human institutions and laws of society cannot prevent society, in general, from ruin. The erosion of any social structure is guaranteed with the absence of sanctions imposed by a life oriented towards the goal of holiness. The laws and ordnances transcend time; weather spoken or written.
(Taken from Ezekiel / Artscroll) Reply

Yeah to Hey Well before Nazi Germany how many advanced societies attempted to eliminate the Chosen People only to become extinct themselves? This history serves as abundant reason to fear, revere and believe. Reply

Hey Dear anonymous,
You have a great question I hope I can answer it. It seems that these laws are very humane and ethical, so perhaps you question their divinity. However without fear and belief in g-d , people don't follow. Some of the most advanced societies like Germany during WWII killed 6 million Jews because although they were the most advanced and civilized they didn't understand commandment of I am your g-d. A person needs to fear and love g-d or even the most practical things like honor mother and father are not followed through with. Hope this makes sense. Reply

My Torah portion Reply

Gentile's point of view regarding previous comment At the time when the Torah was given, was there ever a man who displayed such wisdom? If there was such a man, wouldn't it be very human to take credit for,or for other's to give praise for such insight? Yes, many of these laws do not apply in the literal sense, but isn't the Torah studied in four different ways to obtain understanding and insight; even direction to the vast content of knowledge and wisdom concerning any and all? Reply

I can't help but notice human influence on certain laws that are included in Mishpatim such as relations towards hebrew and gentile slaves which are not applicable in the 21st century. There is a definite humane quality to these laws that have not existed in the various ancient societies before the Torah was given, but do we know if these laws are really from G-d? I understand that G-d would grant the Israelites eternal commandments such as tefillin, kashrut, etc. However, why give Divine commandments that only exist for a short period of time? What is the orthodox view on human influence of certain Torah portions? Reply