Parshat Mishpatim presents the newly liberated Hebrews laws to live by. We are transitioning to text which is largely law instead of narrative. These are rules that take into account the well being of others, particularly those who lack power and advantage, beginning with the most vulnerable, those who are owned by others, but they dig deep even into family relationships as well. For a newly forming community living free in the desert, these laws consider what it means to live as part of a community, when members depend upon one another for their livelihoods and their general well being.
The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes about the order in which laws were presented in Parshat Mishpatim in his blog post entitled In The Details. To read more about what the m'farshim say about how the laws are introduced, I would urge you to read his essay. I was taken by a quote in Rabbi Sack's article by an architect, Mies van Rohe, where he says that God is in the details. What a simple, yet profound way to look at this parsha! What are the fine details in our day to day life, especially those laws that are not dictated by the goverment, but by our consciences. I encourage all of you who read this to read with the lens of "God is in the details of our lives." Where does that bring you? Where can we do better?
The illustrations here are from the Torah Doodles class that I teach every week. These are doodles I made that connected with a number of concepts presented from different parshiyot over the past year. I have found some that might dovetail with just a sampling of the laws presented in this week's parsha.
Wishing all of you a meaningful Shabbat and a close look at Parshat Mishpatim.
Leann
"God is in the Details"
Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969)
But if other damage ensues, the penalty shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.
If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male. Exodus 21:23-27
When a man opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or an ass falls into it,
the one responsible for the pit must make restitution; he shall pay the price to the owner, but shall keep the dead animal. When a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they shall sell the live ox and divide its price; they shall also divide the dead animal. If, however, it is known that the ox was in the habit of goring, and its owner has failed to guard it, he must restore ox for ox, but shall keep the dead animal. Exodus 21 33:-36
If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor; exact no interest from them.
If you take your neighbor’s garment in pledge, you must return it to him before the sun sets;
it is his only clothing, the sole covering for his skin. In what else shall he sleep? Therefore, if he cries out to Me, I will pay heed, for I am compassionate. Exodus 22:24-26
Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; but in the seventh you shall let it rest and lie fallow. Let the needy among your people eat of it, and what they leave let the wild beasts eat. You shall do the same with your vineyards and your olive groves. Exodus 23: 10,11
I am sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have made ready. Pay heed to him and obey him. Do not defy him, for he will not pardon your offenses, since My Name is in him; but if you obey him and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. Exodus 23: 20-22
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