5783/2023

Back in Parashat Bo, Moshe and Aharon warn Paroh of My Letַׁ ” "שַּ֥לח ַע ִּ֖מי ְוַיַֽע ְבֻדֽנִי” must Paroh that demands’ Hashem people go that they may worship Me," (Shemot, 10:3). We were only freed to serve Hashem, which means that we are forever in bondage to Him. Therefore, this week’s Parashah, Parashat Mishpatim, teaches us some of the laws pertaining, then, not just to slaves of man, but also servants of G-d. Part 1: Our Duties To G-d are Theseְ” "ו ֵ֙א ֶּל ֙ה ַה ִּמ ְׁש ָּפ ֔ ִטים ֲא ֶׁ֥שר ָּת ִׂ֖שים ִל ְפנֵיֶהֽם” :reads Pasuk the, First the rules that you shall set before them," (ibid. 21:1) The Righteous Master tells His slaves what His will is, in the form of a, too So. תורה the or, שבע מצות בני נח the or, ששי מצות בני אדם the righteous human master would tell his slaves his rules. The next Pasuk talks about a Jewish slave, stating: “כיִּ֤ you Whenִ ” "ת ְקנֶ ֙ה ֶ֣ע ֶבד ִע ְב ִ֔רי ֵׁ֥שׁש ָׁשִ֖נים יֲַע֑בֹד ּוַ֨ב ְּׁש ִב ֔ ִעת יֵֵ֥צא ַלׇֽח ְפ ִׁ֖שי ִחָּנֽם acquire a...slave, that person shall serve six years...without payment,” (ibid. 21:2). Since we are slaves of Hashem, we are not paid in money, since money should not be able to buy a truly righteous person. Also, like a slave, our time to fulfill our service is limited. ִאם־ ְּבגַּ֥פֹו יָ֖בֹא ְּבגַ ּ֣פֹו יֵֵ֑צא” :states Perek the in Pasuk third The he, single came] slave male a [Ifִ ” "אם־ַּ֤ב ַעל ִא ָּׁש ֙ה ֔הּוא ְויָ ְצָ֥אה ִא ְׁשּ֖תֹו ִע ּֽמֹו shall leave single," (ibid. 21:3). We come into this world as one neshamah and leave as one neshamah, no matter our physical abilities. ִאם־ֲאדֹנָי֙ו יִ ֶּתן־֣לֹו ִא ָּׁ֔שה ְויָ ְל ָדה־֥לֹו” :says Pasuk following The gave master his Ifָ ” "ב ִ֖נים ֣אֹו ָב֑נֹות ָה ִא ָּׁ֣שה ִוי ָלֶ֗די ָה ִּת ְהיֶ ֙ה ַלֽאדֹ֔נֶי ָה ְו֖הּוא יֵֵ֥צא ְבגַ ּֽפֹו him a wife, and she has borne him children, the wife and her children shall belong to the master, and he shall leave alone," (ibid. 21:4). Not only do we belong to Hashem, but what we create belongs to Him as well (as we recite daily in דוד ויברך in דזמרא פסוקי (since indeed everything in the end comes from Him and His allowance of our actions. ְו ִאם־ָא֤מֹר יֹא ַמ ֙ר ָה ֶ֔ע ֶבד ָא ַ֙ה ְב ִּת֙י” :state Pesukim two next The ֶאת־ֲאדֹ֔נִי ֶאת־ ִא ְׁש ִּ֖תי ְו ֶאת־ ָּבָ֑ני ֹ֥לא ֵאֵ֖צא ׇח ְפ ִ ֽׁשי. ְו ִה ִּגי ׁ֤שֹו ֲאדֹנָי֙ו ֶאל־ָ֣הֱאֹל ֔ ִהים ְו ִה ִּגיׁשֹ֙ו the if Butֶ" "אל־ ַהֶּ֔ד ֶלת ֖אֹו ֶאל־ ַה ְּמזּוָ֑זה ְוָרַ֨צע ֲאדָֹ֤ניו ֶאת־ׇאזְנֹ֙ו ַּב ַּמ ְר ֵ֔צ ַע ַוֲע ָב֖דֹו ְלעָֹלֽם slave declares, 'I love my master, and my wife and children: I do not wish to go free,' his master shall take him before G-d...his master shall pierce his ear...and he shall then remain his master’s slave for life," (ibid. 21:5-6). Note that a man must love not just Hashem but also all that He has given him. You cannot be a true servant of Hashem if you are not thankful for your lot. Also, once someone becomes a servant of Hashem, he is always a servant of Hashem. This is represented by both conversion and this process permanently changing a man's body, since both are becoming permanent, loyal servants. Part 2: Human vs. Heavenly Master Later on in the Parashah, Hashem tells us that “שׁאי ִ֨ה֩כַ ֶּי־יֽכ ִוְ a Whenֶ ” "את־ ַע ְבּ֜דֹו ֤אֹו ֶאת־ֲא ָמתֹ֙ו ַּב ֵּׁ֔ש ֶבט ּוֵ֖מת ַּ֣ת ַחת יָ֑דֹו נָ֖קֹם יִּנֵָ ֽקם slave-owning party strikes a slave...who dies there and then, this must be avenged," (ibid. 21:20). A human master cannot kill his slave, since he cannot give him his just reward after death. G-d can give the slaves he kills his true reward after death, and therefore He can kill. Also, G-d cannot do anything that is unjust, while a human can, since He is justice and we are simply slaves. This same principle explains Pasuk 26, regarding a master destroying his slave's eye. In order to be righteous, we must serve Hashem and do what is His will, just as a slave, to be considered good in his master's eyes, must do his master's will. Good Shabbos, and may Hashem hasten the coming of Mashiach and the rebuilding of the Temple, אמן בימינו במהרה!