B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 27, 5784 / February 6, 2024

This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, comes after Parshat Yitro in which we read about the Giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. This tells us that the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha were also given to Moshe on Mount Sinai.

The 613 mitzvot of the Torah are generally divided in two categories; 1) Mitzvot which are between us and G-d; 2) Mitzvot between one person and another. The Ten Commandments are also divided into these two categories.  The first half of the Ten Commandments are mitzvot between us and G-d, while the second half are mitzvot between one person and another.

In Parshat Mishpatim we find many of the laws of the Torah which deal between one person and another. The name Mishpatim refers to the laws which are between people, which are crucial for society to function.  

The barometer of whether a person is truly religious and pious, is not only in their behavior toward G-d, it is also how they behave toward another fellow human being. This is why the laws in the category of Mishpatim (between one and another) comes right after, and in connection with the Giving of the Torah, which begins with, “I am G-d your G-d.” A truly G-d fearing person behaves properly not only toward G-d, but also toward another human being. After all, we were all created in G-d’s image.

One of the mitzvot in this week's Parsha, Mishpatim, is the commandment to help the poor and needy, whether through charity or a loan.  The Torah says, "When you will lend money to My people, to the poor with you, you shall not press him, neither shall you place upon him interest... for when he will cry to Me, I will hear for I am merciful."

In Proverbs (19) we are told that the charity (tzedakah) one gives to the poor is in essence "a loan to G-d Who is trustworthy to repay." Our sages explain that G-d repays not only the amount which we gave to charity, but He pays back much more in ways which only He can.  G-d says, "You have helped the poor person when he was hungry and thus kept him alive, I will repay you also a soul for a soul, by saving your child's life when he/she will be in need."

Rabbi Shneur Zalmen, founder of Chabad, would collect funds to support the needy in Israel.  He would send collectors to the cities and villages where his Chassidim lived. One Chassid earned his livelihood by peddling his wares throughout the area. Whenever he made an extraordinary deal which earned him extra money, he would attribute it to the fact that there was a special need for charity.  "I'm sure," he would say, "that when I come home one of the Rebbe's collectors will be waiting for me!"

Our sages teach us about tzedakah (charity), “More than what we do for the needy person when giving charity, the needy person does more for us.” We get from giving much more than what we give away.

MAY WE ALL STAY UNITED IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL. MAY G-D HAVE MERCY UPON THEM AND HAVE THEM RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY NOW.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY