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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
Parshas Mishpatim. The word “mishpatim” (mishpat) means justice. It is a parsha of civil and ethical laws – laws that create a sphere of social justice in society.
The mishpatim include – but are not limited to – returning lost items to the rightful owners; not causing stress or pain through either words or actions to a convert, widow or orphan; not to be the bearer of false rumors or gossip; not to accept bribes; the penalties for causing bodily injury or property damage; laws of moral offenses; laws of borrowing and lending; and staying far from falsehood.
Simply put – to be a mentch!
“V’eileh hamishpatim, And these are the laws…” (Shemos 21:1) Rashi questions why a new parsha begins with “v’eileh” meaning “and” these are.
Our sages teach that “and” links Parshas Misahpatim to the previous parsha of Yisro – the parsha that tells of the giving of the Aseres HaDibros, the Ten Commandments. Just as the Aseres HaDibros were given at Sinai, so too were the mishpatim. Both are HaShem’s Torah. Both are fundamentals of Jewish life.
Parshas Mishpatim tells us of Bnei Yisroel famously saying upon accepting the Torah “Na’aseh v’Nishma, we will do and we will listen.” How interesting that this pasuk is in Shemos 24:7, and is a mantra that should be on every Jew’s lips 24/7.
The Midrash tells us that HaShem offered the Torah to all the nations of the world. Each one inquired as to what commandments are included. Each one found an objectionable law, thereby rejecting the gift of Torah. Only the Jewish people cried out “Na’aseh v’Nishma, we will do and we will listen”. Even before hearing all the details, Bnei Yisroel accepted Torah and mitzvos. Their emunah and bitachon in HaShem was so strong, that their acceptance was unconditional.
Na’aseh v’Nishma. Words repeated in every generation. Na’aseh – we will do, then v’Nishma – we will listen, we will learn. To immerse ourselves in the richness of Torah study. Na’aseh v’Nishma – a creed to live by.
During the summer months, my mother, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h, would lecture at the Pine View Hotel, then a popular Catskills resort. One Friday morning, a young man showed up. He was very antagonistic and ready to challenge my mother to a debate in Jewish belief.
My mother didn’t even go there. Instead, she invited him to join the family for Shabbos, and said that they’ll talk after Havdalah, when Shabbos was over.
Na’aseh v’Nishma. Torah action first. To live as a Jew, to experience Shabbos, keep mitzvos, and then to study and to learn.
My mother was so right. By the time Shabbos was over, after living through twenty-four hours of the most beautiful davening, seudos, zemiros and Torah lectures, he was no longer in debate mode, but ready to learn.
Observing mitzvos is life transforming. It touches the neshama. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that true listening is not with one’s ears, but with one’s soul. To listen and let the words enter our neshama. To elevate our very being, enabling us to soar to new spiritual heights. When Torah enters the neshama, it impacts us in ways we can’t begin to imagine.
“If you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering astray, you must return it to him.” (Shemos 23:4). One mitzva. So many lessons. To care not only for another’s well-being, but to show concern for their possessions. To go out of our way and make an effort to return a lost item to its rightful owner. The Torah uses the double expression “hosheiv t’shivenu”, meaning you shall return it again and again, even if one loses an article multiple times, there is still an obligation to return it.
The pasuk mentions an “enemy’s” lost possession, conveying an important message. Acts of kindness are not only reserved for friends and family, everyone deserves a favor, even someone you may not get along with.
Do a favor. Show a kindness. It’s the best way to foster positive relationships. It doesn’t have to be returning a lost item. It could be saying a kind word, offering to run an errand, bringing flowers or dropping off challa for Shabbos. Little things that mean so much. Small gestures that break down barriers and bring people together.
Each of us is created with a cheilek elokah mi’maal, an inner G-dly spark from above. A touch of the Divine is within each of us. A spark we must honor and respect. Not only within ourselves, but within everyone around us who is similarly endowed with this special Heavenly spark.
There is a story of returning lost property that made international headlines in 2013 and stands out in my mind. It is a story of Rabbi Noach Muroff, then a yeshiva high school teacher in New Haven Connecticut. He purchased a desk for himself that he found on Craigslist for under $200.
No matter how much he tried, the rabbi was unable to fit the desk through his doorway. Plan B came into action. Slowly he began taking the desk apart. To Rabbi Muroff’s great shock and surprise, there, hidden behind the drawers were bundles of bills — $98,000 in all.
Rabbi Muroff knew exactly what he had to do. Even through the hour was late, 11:30 PM, he called the previous owner, Patti. Patti was in utter disbelief. She spoke of an inheritance she had received many years earlier, and completely forgot where she hid it.
The very next morning, the rabbi, his wife, and four children went to return the money to Patti. The rabbi spoke of taking his children along so they could see hashovas aveidah, returning lost items, in action. A life lesson he wanted them to experience first-hand.
With great appreciation, Patti wrote to the rabbi. “I do not think there are too many people in the world that would have done what you did.”
To live a Torah life. To go above and beyond, and do the right thing. As the rabbi said on national TV, “The most important thing in life is to be honest.”
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov
May we zocheh to be truly marbeh b’simcha!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
