Shabbat Mishpatim
Written by Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi Thursday, 15 February 2007
Mishpatim, the name of our Sidra, means ‘judgements’ or ‘case law’ and is almost entirely legal.
Yet the contents of the Sidra represent the spirit and purpose of the whole Torah. Rabbi John Rayner described the Torah as ‘the design for a perfect world.’ That might seem a strange description of laws about slaves, oxen and asses, theft, assault and debt. But about 2,500 years ago, this is what it said about slaves: ‘If a man strikes the eye of his bondman, or the eye of his bondwoman, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for this eye’s sake. And if he knocks out his bondsman’s or his bondswoman’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.’ (Ex. 21:26-27 This year we celebrate the bicentennial of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. That trade made it quite legitimate for a man not only to knock out his slave’s tooth, but to beat the slave to death.
Similarly, we are told, ‘If you take your neighbour’s garment as a pledge, you shall restore it to him by sunset; for it is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin; what shall he sleep in?’ (Ex. 22:25-26). But millions of people are still being forced into slavery because of their debt, and if it is not paid off, their children in turn become bond-slaves. Today, 2500 years on, the command to treat slaves and debtors compassionately still needs urgently to be heard.
Underpinning the Sidra is a passionate concern for justice and kindness. It may appear legalistic, but the laws of the Torah provide a means by which everyone in Torah can be treated equally, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor, powerful or defenceless. Indeed, the laws are there to protect the most vulnerable in society: the orphan, the widow and the stranger. They are the people who would normally have no property or rights. But the Torah gives them rights: to the gleanings of the field and the produce of the sabbatical year, to a fair trial, and most importantly of all, the right to be treated with dignity.
Some of the laws in Mishpatim do seem harsh when viewed from today’s perspective. But taken in context, we can see how they could provide a design for a perfect world. For they teach us that a perfect world does not just happen through idealistic thinking. We needs laws to make sure that the ideals are put into practice and the rights of the most vulnerable are safe-guarded. It is through laws that the ideals of justice, compassion and respect for the dignity of others can be put into practice.
Many of us learnt from our teacher Rabbi John Rayner what it means to be fearless in our defence for the weak and the vulnerable. That is what Mishpatim teaches. If we take its teachings to heart, we may help to bring nearer a perfect world.
