Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim And should men brawl and collide with a pregnant woman, And her fetus come out but there be no other mishap, He shall surely be punished according to What the woman's husband imposes upon him, As the judges determine (Shemot 21:22)   Should men brawl – This refers to Hebrews who are brawling, hitting one the other, as in 'Why do you hit your fellow'. (Ibn Ezra, ibid. ibid)   Should men brawl – With their...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim If you lend money to My people, to the poor who are in your power, Do not act toward him as a creditor, Exact no interest from him. (Shemot 22,24)     If you lend money to My people – R. Yishmael says: Every 'if' in the Torah is voluntary except for three instances, the above being one of them. Do not act toward him as a creditor- Do not demand payment from him forcibly if...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim "If a fire shall go forth and find thorns, and a stack of grain or a standing crop or a field is consumed, the one who kindled the fire shall make restitution." (Shemot 22:5)   If a fire shall go forth – by itself… and our sages of blessed memory interpreted this in Baba Kama (60b) in terms of the destruction of the Temple, as it is written (Yeshayahu 64:10): "Our holy...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim But if there is a fatality, you shall give a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. (Shemot 21: 23-4)                                                 Between the Plain Meaning of Scripture and the Halakhah A life for a life, an eye for an eye… a hand for a hand – A life he pays; he does not pay money for life. Rabbi says:...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. (Shemot 21:24)   An eye for an eye – Plain Meaning and Drash An eye – Rav Saadya said, we cannot interpret this passage literally. For if a person struck his fellow's eye, causing him to lose a third of his eyesight, how can he possibly be smitten in an identical degree, neither more nor less?...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim AND THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, "COME UP TO ME TO THE MOUNTAIN AND REMAIN THERE, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE STONE TABLETS, THE LAW AND THE COMMANDMENTS, WHICH I HAVE WRITTEN TO INSTRUCT THEM." (Shemot 24:12)     It has been taught, R. Jose stated: Neither did the Shekhinah ever descend to earth, nor did Moses or Elijah ever ascend to Heaven, as it is written, The heavens are the heavens of...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim YOU SHALL NOT ACCEPT A BRIBE, FOR A BRIBE WILL BLIND THE CLEAR SIGHTED AND CORRUPT WORDS THAT ARE RIGHT. (Shemot 23:8)   Rabbi Abahu said: Come and see how blinded are those who receive bribes. A man whose eyes bother him gives money to a physician – he may or may not be cured. These take a penny's worth and blind their eyes, for it is said: a bribe will blind...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim YOU SHALL NOT SUBVERT THE RIGHTS OF YOUR NEEDY IN THEIR DISPUTES. KEEP FAR FROM A FALSE CHARGE; DO NOT BRING DEATH TO THOSE WHO ARE INNOCENT AND IN THE RIGHT, FOR I WILL NOT ACQUIT THE WRONGDOER. (Shemot 23:6-7)   You shall not subvert the rights of your needy in their disputes. Why is this said? Because it says nor shall you show deference to a poor man in his dispute (Shemot 23:3)...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Mishpatim WHEN YOU SEE THE ASS OF YOUR ENEMY LYING UNDER ITS BURDEN AND WOULD REFRAIN FROM RAISING IT, YOU MUST NEVERTHELESS RAISE IT WITH HIM. (Shemot 23:5)     When you meet, when you see – Outside the law-court you must save and help the possessions of even your enemy and hater… Even if the owner has done you real harm, you should still save him from the loss. But an ass lying under...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Mishpatim YOU SHALL NOT WRONG A STRANGER OR OPPRESS HIM, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT. YOU SHALL NOT MISTREAT ANY WIDOW OR ORPHAN (Shemot 22:20-1)   You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan – That is also the law regarding any person, but Scripture is speaking of what usually happens and therefore mentions these in particular for they are feeble in defensive power and it is a frequent occurrence for...