Spirituality_ >> Torah portion
Please join us for
two extraordinary
productions from the
Tony Award-winning
The Acting Company.
US
Parshat Mishpatim: Exodus 21:1-24:18;
Jeremiah 34:8-34:22; 33:25-33:26.
A
mid the thunder, lightning
and marvels that came along
with God giving the Ten
Commandments to Moses on Mount
Sinai in last week's Torah portion is an
important and implied disclaimer ...
there are actually 603 mitz-
vot more incumbent upon
the Israelites.
To symbolize that the
commandment giving
did not stop after the "big
10," our Torah portion
Mishpatim begins with the
mean-
Hebrew letter vav
ing "and" — which serves
to connect the mitzvot pre-
sented in our portion with
the ones already given. And
who says that some of the
smallest words don't con-
tain some of the greatest meaning?
As our portion commences — one
after another, God reveals a series of
laws that will assist in organizing the
Israelites while helping them prepare
for a system of government that will
take effect upon their arrival in Eretz
Yisrael.
Many areas of law are uncovered
including the owning and treatment
of slaves, capital crimes and acts of
murder, kidnapping, theft, lending,
lying and the punishment for insulting
one's parents (just don't do it!). Among
other regulations are those concern-
ing personal injuries and damages,
witchcraft, oppression, idolatry, unjust
business practices, social codes as well
as the definition of unfair treatment
by judges and courts.
Also in this series of mitzvot is the
instruction for showing sensitivity to
the ger (stranger), a mitzvah that is
close to the Israelites' hearts and that
encourages them to never forget what
it feels like to be a stranger in a foreign
land, just as they were strangers in the
land of Egypt. Regulations concerning
Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot and
the sabbatical year are also offered.
—
Moses then writes down all of
God's words and constructs an altar
at the foot of Mount Sinai with 12 pil-
lars, representing each of the tribes
of Israel. Upon hearing all 53 of the
mitzvot presented herein (23 positive,
30 prohibitions), the people
declare in one voice: "All
that God has commanded
us, we will do!" God calls to
Moses after seven days and
tells him to enter the cloud,
a place Moses will remain
for the next 40 days and
nights.
In order for the system of
Jewish law to work, not only
for our ancestors but also
for we who live in the mod-
em world, it is imperative
that we each take respon-
sibility for how we behave and are
cognizant of what it expected of us.
At the same time, it prudent for us to
realize that laws actually help us live
in a society with others in a way that
is not only mutually beneficial, but
also meaningful and productive.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of
mitzvot (613 to be exact) waiting for
us to explore. And if you can't decide
where to begin, your community
clergy are here to help you on your
journey toward shlemut (wholeness)
and shalom (internal peace)! ri
Joseph H. Krakoff is a rabbi at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
Conversations
1.Which mitzvot are the easiest
to perform?
2. Which mitzvot are the most
challenging for you to observe?
3. If you had to choose, which
would you say is the most
important mitzvah in the Torah?
Julius Caesar
Saturday, March 10 - 8 p.m.
This classic story of pride, envy,
arrogance and honor blends
historic events of the reign of the
iconic Roman emperor with the
tragedy of betrayal.
CAESAR
U .
0
he corneal
0 1 Errors
-40106 ;''
Comedy of Errors
Sunday, March 11 - 3 p.m.
Monday, March 12 - 10 a.m.
v i N tlilg
This farce, full of slapstick, puns
and wordplay, tells the story of two
sets of identical twins accidentally
separated at birth.
"The Acting Company endures as the major touring classical
theater in the United States." The NewYork Times
Tickets are $45
($35 for JCC members)
For student and group discounts, call
The Berman box office at 248.661.1900
or visit www.theberman.org.
. :•3
THE CENTER
The Berman Center for the Performing Arts
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600W. Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322 • www.jccdet.org
1732640
February 16 2012
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