JANUARY 27 • 2022 | 41

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very year I am amazed at
the lessons in sensitivity
that the Torah teaches us
in this Torah portion.
One would think that
the Torah would begin
its laws (mishpatim),
given at Sinai, regarding
the High Holidays or the
service in the Tabernacle
or the requirement to
tithe, etc.; but it first
chooses to discuss the
unsavory person who is
a thief and needs to be
sold into servitude. The
Torah is worried about
the weakest among us;
and, in order for the
thief to be rehabilitated,
he is sold to a fine Jewish
person who is obligated to

treat not only him with respect
but assist his family with their
needs, too.
It’s such a contrast to the
penal system that we
know, where the perpe-
trator exits incarceration
worse off than when
entered, and his family is
abandoned.
We also see compassion
when the Torah needs to
penalize a thief. There is
less monetary punishment
when one steals an animal
that necessitates being
carried on one’s shoulders,
embarrassing the thief,
than if one stole an animal
that’s able to walk on its
own. The Torah takes into
consideration one’s emotions

when issuing a penalty.
In a fascinating ruling, we
see how the Torah expects us
to refine our characters. The
Torah instructs us to rush to
the aid of an animal suffer-
ing under too heavy a load.
However, if two animals were
suffering, one belonging to one’s
friend and one belonging to
one’s enemy, we are obligated to
first assist our enemy’s animal,
in order to work on our own
character refinement and facili-
tate a peaceful relationship.
In a later ruling, also discuss-
ing the care for animals, the
Torah prohibits plowing with
an ox and a donkey. One expla-
nation is that since the ox chews
its cud, the donkey may think
the ox was just fed and it wasn’t.
This would be insensitive. The
commentators extrapolate from
this law that an employer must
hire people who are compatible
and equal in their strengths.
One worker should not feel that

he’s carrying most of the load
while another struggles to keep
up.
These lessons in refinement
helped hone the character of
Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer,
a great rabbi from a previous
generation (1870-1953). When
he walked home in Jerusalem
from the synagogue, even when
he had difficulty walking, he
would go the long way around.
When asked why, he explained
that since he now must use a
cane that taps on the sidewalk,
he noticed that he scared off the
feeding birds from the birdseed
a neighbor provided for them.
Fortunate is the one who learns
and becomes great by refining
his personality.
So many of the laws in
Mishpatim are so sublime,
indicating clearly that the Torah
was given by God at Sinai.

Rabbi Boruch Levin is executive director

at Hebrew Memorial Chapel in Oak Park.

MAZEL TOV!

Riley Addison Gutman, daughter of Sarah
and Eric Gutman, will be called to the Torah
as a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. She
will be joined in celebration by her sister
Sydney. Riley is the loving grandchild of
Sandy and Cheri Topper, Bonnie and Dr. Leslie Bricker,
Karen and Howard Gutman, and Margo and Jeff Lowe.
Riley is a student at Norup International School in Oak
Park. As part of her mitzvah project, she sold bracelets
to raise money for the Camp Walden scholarship pro-
gram, Taproots.

Jacob Potocsky, son of Julie Potocsky and
Kevin Potocsky, will lead the congregation in
prayer as he becomes a bar mitzvah at
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday,
Jan. 28, 2022. He will be joined in celebra-
tion by his brother Logan. Jacob is the loving
grandchild of Evelyn and Louis Wolff, and Myra and
Dennis Potocsky.
He is a student at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit in Farmington Hills. For his most rewarding mitz-
vah project, Jake contributed to the Feeding Families
Project and Food Delivery for the Homeless.

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Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for
special birthdays starting at the 90th.
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Skill, Sensitivity and Tradition
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SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
Laws That Build
Character

Rabbi
Boruch Levin

Parshat

Mishpatim:

Exodus

21:1-24:18;

Jeremiah

33:25-26;

34:8-22.