Parshas Mishpatim – My Pillow

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

It was the mid-1940s. The horrific days of the Holocaust were coming to a close, yet the cruel acts of Nazi Germany left its mark. It was time to pick up the remnants of our nation. It was a time to rebuild and start anew.

There was a group of young orphaned boys. Boys who were left without mothers or fathers. Boys who were totally alone in the world.

Plans were made for them to go to Eretz Yisroel, but who would care for them? Who would be there to give them a helping hand, a kind word, and offer encouragement during their time of healing?

Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, zt”l, the Rav of the Ponovezh Yeshiva, accepted the responsibility. The Rav arranged for a vacant municipal building in Bnei Brak to be transformed into a dorm for the boys. He raised funds to purchase beds, tables and chairs, sparing no effort to make the boys as comfortable as possible.

Rav Kahaneman had everything ready – almost. The moneys he collected were exhausted, and there weren’t any funds left to purchase pillows, blankets and linens.

It was a Friday afternoon, Erev Shabbos. The boys were scheduled to arrive on Sunday. What was the Rav to do? Even if he was able to obtain the extra funds, proper bedding was “a luxury” in Israel in those days, exceedingly hard to come by.

The Rav came up with a plan.

Rav Kahaneman spread the word in his community that he had an important message to deliver, and would be speaking in his shul on Shabbos afternoon. Of course, when the Rav would speak, not only would the local community attend, but people from throughout Bnei Brak would come out en masse to hear his words.

On Shabbos afternoon the shul was full. Rav Kahaneman began speaking about the laws of an “eved Ivri”, a Jewish servant. Laws that are found in Parshas Mishpatim.

At first, the people couldn’t understand – it wasn’t even Parshas Mishpatim that week. Why was the Rav speaking that particular Shabbos about the subject of eved Ivri?

Rav Kahaneman related the teachings of the Talmud regarding how one must treat his servant. The servant’s physical comfort is of such importance, that if a master has only one pillow, he must forgo his own comfort and provide it to the servant.

Rav Kahaneman continued, telling his listeners that it is difficult to understand why a servant would receive priority over the master? After all, doesn’t the master deserve a good night’s sleep?

The Rav rhetorically asked, how can one sleep knowing that a fellow Jew is not resting peacefully.

Rav Kahaneman spoke from the depth of his heart. He shared how he tried his utmost to make everything comfortable for the soon-to-be-arriving group of young war orphans. Yet, despite his efforts, he was unable to obtain proper bedding. With much emotion, he cried out to the audience. “How can any of us sleep comfortably tonight, knowing that the arriving children have no pillows or blankets?”

Devarim hayotzim min halev, nichnasim el halev, Words that emanate from one heart, enter another.

The Rav’s words were heartfelt and poignant. They touched all who were in attendance. That night, soon after Shabbos ended, there was a rush of people in Bnei Brak bringing pillows, blankets and linens to Rav Kahaneman.

When the boys arrived on Sunday, their rooms were ready and comfortable.

This week’s parsha, Mishpatim, shares with us many laws bein adam lechaveiro, between man and his fellow. Ethical, moral and civil laws. Mitzvos teaching us kindness and compassion. Amongst them are how careful one must be not to cause pain to widows and orphans. To be sensitive to a convert’s feelings. Not to speak falsehoods and be a rumor monger. Not to fall into the trap of bribery. All of these are mitzvos that speak to our neshama. Yet, the parsha opens with the laws of an eved Ivri, a Jewish servant. Why?

One way an individual becomes an eved Irvi is if he stole and was unable to repay his victim. He is turned over to a beth din, a Jewish court of law, which then sells him to become a servant, with the proceeds paid by the purchaser used to compensate those whom he victimized. Even though he is a thief, the Torah has laws to protect his honor and dignity. For instance, he should not be ordered to perform menial tasks, he is to be offered the same quality food and drink as his master, and must be given sleeping accommodations comparable to what his master and family enjoy. And yes, even if there is only that one pillow, it goes to the servant.

In our modern-day world, a convicted criminal ends up doing jail time. However, in Talmudic times, a thief would join a welcoming family. A family that can give him a second chance. Instead of jail time, he is given rehab time. An opportunity to observe and experience a meaningful and productive way of living, thereby giving him a new lease on life.

The question remains as to why the parsha opens with the discussion of an eved Ivri. The Torah is giving us a valuable lesson. Each one of us is created betzelem Elokim, in the image of G-d, implanted with a Divine spark. Sometimes, we may stumble, we may even fall and make serious mistakes. But despite it all, that pintele yid, the inner Divine spark never disappears. It may become diminished at times, but it is never extinguished, and with sincere effort it can once again become a roaring flame.

Each and every individual is worthy of honor and respect, if only to recognize and honor the chelek Elokah, that part of HaShem within.

Just consider, if even a thief is afforded dignity and humane treatment, how much more so are we obligated to treat family, neighbors, friends and business associates with respect, courtesy and consideration.

Rav Kahaneman’s words continue to reverberate to this day. How can one sleep when he knows his brothers are in pain. How can one rest, when there are still remaining hostages, being held in deplorable conditions. When so many families have been torn apart. So many have been uprooted from their homes. And, from what we’ve seen from photos of those recently released, it’s unimaginable how much pain and torture those still held are enduring.

As we are about to enter the month of Adar, let us daven that all those suffering, all those hurting, will experience a v’nehapachu, a turnover to joy, happiness and tranquility in their lives.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at csgertzulin@gmail.com

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