Mishpatim

Reading through this upcoming parasha I realized how important it is to remember that we are Rabbinic Jews, whose understanding of Judaism is filtered through the multiple lenses of those wise people who have interpreted Torah in ways that are meaningful to us in our time and continue to be meaningful for all time.

For those who read the words of Torah literally I would suggest that you do our religion no favors. Fundamentalism in all its varieties has the potential to do much more harm than good.

Please look at the suggestions for study of parshat Mishpatim from last year with this in mind.

Also, be sure to click on Parsha 4 Kids for an idea for a conversation you can have with students about parshat Mishpatim.

Yitro

In the first chapter of this parasha Moshe is reunited with his family for the first time since he left his wife and children to return to Egypt. According to the text,

ה  וַיָּבֹא יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, וּבָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּוֹ--אֶל-מֹשֶׁה:  אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר, אֲשֶׁר-הוּא חֹנֶה שָׁם--הַר הָאֱלֹהִים.
5
And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God;

Who would you expect Moshe would be most anxious to see?

According to the text, what happened next?
ז  וַיֵּצֵא מֹשֶׁה לִקְרַאת חֹתְנוֹ, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ וַיִּשַּׁק-לוֹ, וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ-לְרֵעֵהוּ, לְשָׁלוֹם; וַיָּבֹאוּ, הָאֹהֱלָה. 7


And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

Does anything surprise you about this reunion? Why do you think it is described this way?

Later on in the same chapter, Yitro advises Moshe to appoint judges to help him with his work. The qualifications are as follows:
אנשי חיל
יראי א לוהים
אנשי אמת
שנאי בצע

These four attributes may be translated as:
Valiant men
God-fearing men
Truthful men
Those who are not greedy

Do you think these were the most important values a judge in the time of the Torah needed in order to do the job?
Are they the same values a judge today ought to have?

List the values you believe a judge today needs. How do they compare to those stated by Yitro?

Yitro

In the first chapter of this parasha Moshe is reunited with his family for the first time since he left his wife and children to return to Egypt. According to the text, ה  וַיָּבֹא יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, וּבָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּוֹ--אֶל-מֹשֶׁה:  אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר, אֲשֶׁר-הוּא חֹנֶה שָׁם--הַר הָאֱלֹהִים. 5 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God; Who would you expect Moshe would be most anxious to see? According to the text, what happened next? ז  וַיֵּצֵא מֹשֶׁה לִקְרַאת חֹתְנוֹ, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ וַיִּשַּׁק-לוֹ, וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ-לְרֵעֵהוּ, לְשָׁלוֹם; וַיָּבֹאוּ, הָאֹהֱלָה. 7 And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. Does anything surprise you about this reunion? Why do you think it is described this way? Later on in the same chapter, Yitro advises Moshe to appoint judges to help him with his work. The qualifications are as follows: אנשי חיל יראי א לוהים אנשי אמת שנאי בצע These four attributes may be translated as: Valiant men God-fearing men Truthful men Those who are not greedy Do you think these are the most important values a judge in the time of the Torah needed in order to do the job? Are they the same values a judge today ought to have? List the values you believe a judge today needs. How do they compare to those stated by Yitro?