Mishpatim – Page 14 – Peninim on the Torah

“If you shall acquire a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve.” (21:2)

The servant described here is actually a thief who was sold by the Bais Din into servitude because of his inability to make restitution. The Torah’s manner of punishment seems peculiar. The community takes a common thief who has exhibited complete disregard for another person’s possessions and feelings and gives him a new home, job, and lifestyle. We are giving self-respect to one who has shown so little esteem to others. This question becomes stronger when one takes into account the statement of the Talmud (Kiddushin 22b) that “one who acquires a Jewish servant is really purchasing a master for…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“And if a man will come presumptuously upon his fellow to slay him with guile, from My altar, take him for execution.” (21:14)

Rashi explains that if this murderer were a Kohen who had intended to perform the service in the Bais Hamikdash, he may be taken away to his execution. The altar does not serve as a place of refuge for those who deserve punishment. Horav Moshe Shternbuch Shlita offers a unique homiletic approach to understanding this pasuk. One should not think that by performing mitzvos he can commute the punishment he merits for the various sins he has committed. Just as a sin does not have the power to extinguish a mitzvah, likewise, a mitzvah cannot erase a sin. The only…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“And Hashem said to Moshe , Come up to Me onto the mountain and be there, and I will give you the tablets of stone and the commandments which I have written that you shall teach them.” (21:12)

The “call” that came to Moshe to ascend the heights of Har Sinai conveys the potential power inherent in man. It represents the supremacy of spirit over flesh, of the eternal over the ephemeral, of vision over reason. The event that transpired during that ascendancy cannot be explained logically. Only the arrogance of a shallow man would cause him to dismiss this revelation. Only one who has never been there, who lacks even a concept of how to approach the level of inspiration which Moshe reached, would endeavor to detract from this awesome experience. It is only Moshe who was…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5752

“And Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (21:18)

It is obviously beyond the ability of even the greatest contemporary man to memorize all of the details of the Torah in forty days, simultaneously comprehending all of its profundities. Moshe did all of this while he also learned how to observe the mitzvos, including the specifics of the construction of the Mishkan and its appurtenances, which are not written in the Torah. Consequently, we may deduce that the process of study which transpired on the mountain was nothing less than a miraculous feat. Hashem bestowed this wisdom upon Moshe as one would pour wine into a vessel. The…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5751

“And these are the laws that you shall set before them.” (21:1)

Rashi explains that whenever the term “vkt” (these) is stated, it excludes the preceding sections, but when the term “vktu” (and these) is stated, it adds to the preceding. Just as the preceding laws were given at Mount Sinai, so too, were these given at Mount Sinai. Rashi reveals here the essential difference between Torah laws and the laws of the nations. The laws of the nations are founded upon the decision and approval of individuals who are readily influenced by the environment and age in which they live. Their various lifestyles and value systems will play a great role…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5751

“When you lend money to My people, to the poor that are with you, do not be to him as a demanding creditor, nor shall you place any interest upon him. (22:24)

Chazal, when explaining this posuk, detail the various forms of kindness necessary in lending money. The lender should perceive the sensitivities of the borrower, and experience feelings of shame and embarrassment as he stands before him. Yet, the Torah strongly admonishes the lender not to take any interest. Yecheskel Hanovi, when castigating the usurer declares “And he shall not live!” (Yecheskel 18:13), which is a very unusual punishment for a negative commandment. However, rather than considering this a punishment, it should be viewed as an evaluation of the usurer’s unworthiness to live. Nevertheless, why is there such strong rebuke and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5751

“And Moshe took the blood and threw it towards the people and he said behold the blood of the covenant.” (24:8)

Moshe took the blood of the sacrifices and divided it, sprinkling half on the altar, and the other half towards the people. This expresses the idea that every drop of blood, that we use in carrying out Hashem’s will in this world, is returned to us in the full measure and precise manner that we give it to Hashem. This is Hashem’s response to the Naase Vnishma of the Bnei Yisroel. The blood symbolizes the mutuality of the covenant. We receive our lifeblood from Hashem, and we only have true possession of ourselves, if we dedicate ourselves to Him.

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Mishpatim, 5751

“And Moshe entered into the midst of the cloud, and he went up into the mountain. (24:18)

Rashi explains that this cloud was like a kind of smoke, and Hashem made for Moshe a path in the midst of it. In Parashas Yisro it states: And Moshe drew near to the thick darkness where Hashem was. (20:18) Rashi explains that Moshe went inside the three divisions: darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. There are three degrees of darkness expressed in the words darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. On this occasion, Moshe was able to penetrate all three layers of darkness, to the very heart of the heavens. We may apply this image of Moshe ascending to Hashem,…

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“If you shall acquire a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve.” (21:2)

“And if a man will come presumptuously upon his fellow to slay him with guile, from My altar, take him for execution.” (21:14)

“And Hashem said to Moshe , Come up to Me onto the mountain and be there, and I will give you the tablets of stone and the commandments which I have written that you shall teach them.” (21:12)

“And Moshe was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” (21:18)

“And these are the laws that you shall set before them.” (21:1)

“When you lend money to My people, to the poor that are with you, do not be to him as a demanding creditor, nor shall you place any interest upon him. (22:24)

“And Moshe took the blood and threw it towards the people and he said behold the blood of the covenant.” (24:8)

“And Moshe entered into the midst of the cloud, and he went up into the mountain. (24:18)

YEARS

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