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.

HOW TO SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Jewish community. Anniversaries, engagements and weddings 
with a photo (preferably color) can appear at a cost of $18 each. 
Births are $10. There is no charge for bar/bat mitzvahs or for 
special birthdays starting at the 90th.
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or for a mailed or emailed copy of guidelines.

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Skill, Sensitivity and Tradition 
come together to create your special Bris.

SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
Laws That Build 
Character

Rabbi 
Boruch Levin

Parshat 

Mishpatim: 

Exodus 

21:1-24:18; 

Jeremiah 

33:25-26; 

34:8-22.