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The Key: How You
Treat Other People

Parshat Mishpatim: Exodus 21:1-24:18,
Jeremiah 34:8-34:22; 33:25-33:26.

L

ast week in the Torah, we read
the Ten Commandments, re-
experiencing the revelation at
Sinai. This week, we begin the system-
atic presentation of mitzvot, the listing
of our laws. Sefer Hahinuch, which
details all 613 command-
ments, credits 52 of them to
this portion alone.
The instructions spelled
out are expansive — rules
of honesty and judgment,
of what to do when you
encounter a lost possession.
There are laws protecting
the rights of slaves and even
the expression with which
all are familiar representing
the idea of just compensa-
tion, an eye for an eye.
We find here a civil code with laws
ranging from guaranteeing the dignity
of everyone; to civil regulations around
property damage; to personal injury
and negligence.
Some have questioned the lumping
together of all these ordinances. Yes,
they deal with the minutia of every-
day life, but so many have little to do
with our realities today. How often
are we concerned with what happens
if an ox gores a man to death? Even
more, what does this have to do with
the holiness we so desire in our com-
munity?
Simply put, the answer is every-
thing. Our laws are telling us quite
clearly that every single thing we do
has consequences. The impact felt
from our actions not only affects our-
selves, but will be reflected directly in
our community as well. And that we
can never take lightly.
I love the teaching of the Kli Yikar
from the 16th century. In his commen-
tary, Rabbi Lunschitz taught some-
thing remarkable and unique regard-
ing the opening of this parshah, "these
are the rules (mishpatim) that you
shall set before them:' Most believe the

subject "them" in this case refers to the
people of Israel, that the laws are pre-
sented to our ancestors. The Talmud,
on the other hand, teaches that "them"
refers specifically to the courts and
judges in their actions.
However, the Kli Yikar
tells us that this verse is
actually about the order the
laws are given. Because all
of these laws dealing with
how we treat one another,
reminding us of our civic
and humanitarian respon-
sibilities, are followed in
the next chapters with laws
detailing the construction
of the sanctuary, the rules
for the priestly garments
and then finally, laws
around ritual and the sacrificial wor-
ship.
With this 16th-century twist, the
entire portion gets a new look. In
other words, we read that these are
the laws you shall place before "them:'
those other laws, before the laws
relating to ritual and to God. We can
never lose sight that proper behavior
between one another comes before
proper behavior toward God. It's what
we are reminded of every year on
Yom Kippur, that we cannot go before
God and ask forgiveness until we have
gone to one another and righted our
wrongs.
There is no doubt our laws are
important. Our tradition has been
constructed on them, with each gen-
eration's insight and input. While get-
ting closer to God is a desire, we first
must get closer to each other. That is
the most direct route to take.
It is a beautiful tradition we've been
given reminding us every day that the
basis of being religious, first, is being
kind and caring, thoughtful and just.

❑

Michael L. Moskowitz is a rabbi at Temple

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February 7 • 2013

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