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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Mishpatim
Our Sedra of Mishpatim, coming on the heels of Yitro & the 10 Commandments, begins to detail numerous laws that help define our relationship with our fellow Jew. Yes, the way we act towards, & react to Hashem is extremely important. But at the end of the day - as the Nevi’im preach to us time & again – G-d will judge us most strictly on our conduct Bein Adam L’Chavero. That is the essence & "bottom line" of the diverse 53 Mitzvot in the parsha.
It begins, not surprisingly, with rules on how to treat slaves, or better, indentured servants, most of who could only survive by selling themselves for a period of time. Because we ourselves were slaves in Egypt, we are expected to show much greater care & concern for these people than was typical in past societies. And so, while utilizing their services & serving as their "masters," we have to regard them as human beings at all times.
Within the strict constraints of the Halachot, there were times when the spirit overruled the letter of the law. We know that there is a very strict Torah requirement to return an identifiable lost article to its rightful owner; this is one clear way to demonstrate our connection to others & guardianship for their property. And yet, the Torah will later tell us (Devarim 23:16) that if a slave escapes from a cruel master & takes refuge with a Jew in Eretz Yisrael, he should not be sent back to his former owner. Sometimes, one’s rights are superseded by that which IS right.
I have just returned from staffing a fascinating trip to the Amazon in Brazil. One of our excursions was to a rubber factory located on the edge of the rain forest. The Amerindians long ago developed ways to extract rubber from the rubber trees & from 1879-1912 there was a huge "boom" resembling the gold rush. The proliferation of automobiles created a gigantic rubber market, bringing Robber – or Rubber – Barons, primarily from Portugal & England, to Brazil to export the rubber home. They treated the workers with extreme cruelty & violence, & tens of thousands died from disease or mistreatment in the harsh jungle.
I asked our guide, a descendant of these indigenous inhabitants: "Were Jews involved in all of this?" He answered: "The Jews stayed away from the camps; they moored their boats offshore, & brought goods the workers needed, which they sold at fair prices. They treated us with respect." He then lifted his hand to reveal a ring with a Magen David on it. "Israel is our friend," he smiled. (As a dramatic case in point, Israel immediately sent help to Brazil when a dam collapsed there, causing a massive mudslide that killed dozens in a tragic accident last week, while we were touring the Amazon).
It’s not always easy to do the right thing, especially in the face of profit motive. But G-d bids us never to succumb to the law of the jungle or "tire" from maintaining a high moral standing.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.