Mishpatim – Peninim on the Torah

“And they saw the G-d of Yisrael; and under His feet there was a form of a sapphire brick, like the very Heaven for clearness.” (24:10)

The above sentence is complex. Undoubtedly, the unimaginable notion of “seeing” Hashem refers to some aspect of Divine Glory, as the commentaries have already expressed. The allusion to the “brick of sapphire” begs for explanation. Why does the Torah mention this? The Targum Yonason cites a Midrash which sheds light on this enigma. This brick is a reminder of the wretched slavery to which Bnei Yisrael were subjected. The Jewish men and women worked side by side, trampling and treading the mortar. One delicate young woman in the advanced stage of pregnancy miscarried as she was treading upon the mortar….

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5753

“And he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve monuments for the twelve tribes of Yisrael.” (24:4)

Even though this altar was dedicated in the name of the entire nation, each of the twelve tribes was individually represented by a separate monument. Thus, each tribe became obligated to accept total responsibility for the fulfillment of the entire Torah, rather than sharing that responsibility with the other tribes. Hashem has chosen to maintain the individuality of each tribe, so that each one continues to view itself as sustainers of the Covenant with Hashem. Horav Avigdor Miller, Shlita, suggests two additional reasons for maintaining the distinct status of each tribe. First, Hashem imbued each tribe with unique characteristics, which…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5753

“And if men quarrel… if he rise again and walk outside… only he must pay the loss incurred by absence from work and cause him to be throughly healed.’ (21:18,19)

The Talmud Brachos 60a interprets the repetition of the word healing tprh tpru as granting permission to the physician to heal. Rashi extends the words of the Talmud by asserting that Hashem smites and man heals. Thus, he implies that a special biblical dispensation sanctioning human healing is necessary. (We are not focusing here upon the issues of trust in Hashem — or lack thereof — which relate to human healing.) The Chofetz Chaim, z.l., however, presents an interesting insight into the problem of human healing and the role of doctors in the healing process. He questions the Talmud’s “searching”…

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“And they saw the G-d of Yisrael; and under His feet there was a form of a sapphire brick, like the very Heaven for clearness.” (24:10)

“And he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve monuments for the twelve tribes of Yisrael.” (24:4)

“And if men quarrel… if he rise again and walk outside… only he must pay the loss incurred by absence from work and cause him to be throughly healed.’ (21:18,19)

YEARS

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