Mishpatim

Hi,

This week our portion is Mishpatim.

Mishpatim follows up the revelation at Mount Sinai with relatively prosaic laws about human relationships. This indicates the great emphasis we place on treating others well – right after we learn "I am the Lord Your Gd," "Do not take My Name in vain," we also learn about our responsibility to protect the property and person of others, and about giving charity and free loans.

Among the sub-topics discussed is the institution of slavery. Note that this is not the cruel slavery of the American hemisphere; it’s a long-term, binding business contract. Slavery was entered into willingly, with a transaction; the slave was not kidnapped from his land and brought elsewhere. The slave could not be abused, either physically or psychologically. The slave could not be given painfully difficult work.

Non-Jewish slaves had a special way out of slavery - before a year of slavery was up, they were given a choice of beginning a conversion process (to be completed after their slavery ended), or leaving their servitude. If they opted not to convert, the master had no choice but to let them go or to sell them to a non-Jew.

The slave received the best of the household – if there was one bed, the slave took the bed and the master slept on the floor. The only advantage for the master was that he received a guaranteed employee. Other employees could bolt or demand more money at any time, but a slave contracted away those rights for the given period of slavery.

We also learn in this portion about responsibility for damage caused by one’s property, and responsibility for the safety of property left in one’s charge.

We are admonished to give charity, to give loans without interest, and to refrain from collateral and bill-collection practices which would make life difficult for a borrower.

The portion concludes with Gd's promise to bring the Jews to Israel safely and with blessings. The Torah recounts the offering the Jews brought at Sinai, and their acceptance of the Torah. Moshe then ascended the mountain to study the Torah for 40 days.

Have a great day,
Mordechai