Mishpatim
Parshat Mishpatim
Last week we read about the Ten Commandments - the higher ethical and religious principles of Judaism. This week’s reading contains the civil law code of the Jewish people. It might seem unusual for a religion to deal with civil law, but we should remember that Judaism is not only a religion. To be Jewish means to be a member of a people and therefore a legal system has to be in place.
First Aliyah Exodus chapter 21:1-19 pp. 456-460
The first laws mentioned in this code deal with slaves.
Second Aliyah 21:20-22:3 pp. 461-465
This section contains laws dealing with inflicting physical injury; the Torah recounts how compensation should be paid - an eye for an eye. Some societies still follow this dictum, but the rabbis instituted monetary compensation for physical injury. The section concludes with laws of goring animals.
Third Aliyah 22:4-26 pp. 465-470
Laws of theft, borrowing, renting, rape and charging interest.
Fourth Aliyah - 22:27-23:5 pp. 470-472
Laws against perjury, and of eating animals that are killed by other animals.
Fifth Aliyah - 23:6-19 pp. 472-474
Laws against judges accepting bribes, oppressing the stranger, leaving the field to lie fallow in the seventh year, and observing the pilgrimages festivals.
Sixth Aliyah - 23:20-25 pp. 474-475
God will provide an angel to march before the people and protect them. The people will be protected as long as they follow God’s ways.
Seventh Aliyah – 23:26-24:18 pp. 475-480
A description of Moses recounting the laws to the people. Moses built an altar and offered sacrifices. He then sprinkled the blood onto the people to symbolize acceptance of the covenant. Moses then went up the mountain to stay for 40 days and nights.
Maftir - Exodus 30:11-16 pp. 523-524
Today is also Shabbat Shekalim. Rosh Chodesh Adar was the time when the ½ shekel tax was collected from everyone for the upkeep of the Temple. This section describes that collection.
Haftorah - II King’s 12:1-17 pp. 1277-1279
Our Haftorah describes a tax collection during the reign of King Yeho’ash to repair the Temple.
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