Shalom JTF friends,
Usually about this time of the week I start studying the weekly Torah portion. Most Jews will begin the weeks portion on Sunday, reading and studying each Aliyah (which on Shabbat there are 7 Aliyahs to the Torah in the reading) each day. I usually receive some good Dvar Torahs in my email box, but don't really start studying until Wednesday or Thursday. Anyway, this week we read the portion named 'Mishpatim' or 'Laws'. The portion is named this because it is one of the first Mitzvot packed portions, if my memory serves me there are about 53 mitzvot in the portion of Mishpatim. I find this portion interesting because it happens to be my Birthday portion (the portion which was read on the week I was born).
There is much discussion of the first commandment enumerated in Mishpatim concerning the treatment of the 'Eved Ivri' or the 'Hebrew Slave'. The Eved Ivri must be treated humanely and cannot be abused. He is to be set free after six years of service. There are various cases concerning when the slave is injured and he must be set free. I have heard it said that a 'Hebrew Slave' was actually treated better than the slave owner because there is an idea that if there is only one pillow in the house that the Hebrew slave must get it and not the owner.
The portion goes on to explain various laws concerning property responsibility (paying if your animals gore your neighbors animals or your neighbors property) and of establishing boundries. I believe the command to not mix milk and meat occurs in our portion. This portion also contains the command regarding Tefillah (prayer)...
And Mishpatim also contains the famous response of Israel when given the commandments, we all said 'We will do, and we will hear' which suggests that we accepted the commandments fully, without needing to know why or how exactly but putting our faith in Hashem. Only after accepting them would we inquire about them to understand better why Hashem asks these things of us.
From Chabads 'Parasha in a Nutshell' :
Following the revelation at Sinai, G‑d legislates a series of laws for the people of Israel. These include the laws of the indentured servant; the penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault and theft; civil laws pertaining to redress of damages, the granting of loans and the responsibilities of the “Four Guardians”; and the rules governing the conduct of justice by courts of law.
Also included are laws warning against mistreatment of foreigners; the observance of the seasonal festivals, and the agricultural gifts that are to be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; the prohibition against cooking meat with milk; and the mitzvah of prayer. Altogether, the Parshah of Mishpatim contains 53 mitzvot—23 imperative commandments and 30 prohibitions.
G‑d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants.
The people of Israel proclaim, “We will do and we will hear all that G‑d commands us.” Leaving Aaron and Hur in charge in the Israelite camp, Moses ascends Mount Sinai and remains there for forty days and forty nights to receive the Torah from G‑d.
Let us start the videos with Rabbi Shafier: