Naaseh Venishma-Mishpatim-D’var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

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Mishpatim

In the Hebrew year 2448 (1313 BCE), 3,333 years ago, on the 6th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan, Three months after Exodus from Egypt, the Jews arrive at Mount Sinai to hear the Ten Commandments and receive the Torah. Leaving Ahron and Hur in charge in the Israelite camp, Mosheh ascends Mount Sinai and remains there for forty days and forty nights to receive the Torah from G‑d.

Even though Chag Matan Torah, The Giving of the Torah, implies that the entire Torah was given that day, only the Ten Commandments were taught to us that day, and even they were only transmitted verbally. The Luchot Habrit (tablets) were given after 40 days.

The Ten Commandments

Believe in G‑d.
Not to worship idols.
Not to take G‑d’s name in vain.
Keep the Shabbat.
Honor their parents.
Not to murder.
Not to commit adultery.
Not to steal.
Not to bear false witness.
Not covet another’s wife or property.

Parashat Mishpatim מִּשְׁפָּטִים “laws”, sets out a series of laws, the Covenant Code, as the people accept the covenant with G-d. (Exodus 21:1–24:18.)

Following the revelation at Sinai, G-d told Mosheh to give the people of Israel, a series of laws. Altogether, Mishpatim contains 53 mitzvot. 23 commandments and 30 prohibitions. Including the laws of the servant; the penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault and theft; civil laws pertaining to damages, the granting of loans and the responsibilities of the “Four Guardians”- The unpaid guardian, The paid guardian, The borrower, The renter; the rules governing the conduct of justice by courts of law. Also included are laws warning against mistreatment of foreigners; the mitzvah of prayer, the observance of the seasonal festivals: שָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֔ים תָּחֹ֥ג לִ֖י בַּשָּׁנָֽה Three times a year you shall hold a festival for Me: Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot.

אֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֮ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִים֩ תֹּאכַ֨ל מַצּ֜וֹת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֗ךָ לְמוֹעֵד֙ חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב כִּי־ב֖וֹ יָצָ֣אתָ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹא־יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם׃ You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, eating unleavened bread for seven days as I have commanded you, at the set time in the month of Aviv (Spring), for in it you went forth from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty-handed;

Sukkot In The Synagogue. Leopold Pilichowski (1869-1933). Oil On Canvas.

וְחַ֤ג הַקָּצִיר֙ בִּכּוּרֵ֣י מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּזְרַ֖ע בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְחַ֤ג הָֽאָסִף֙ בְּצֵ֣את הַשָּׁנָ֔ה בְּאָסְפְּךָ֥ אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ and the Feast of the Harvest, of the first fruits of your work, of what you sow in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering (Sukkot) at the end of the year, when you gather in the results of your work from the field. And the agricultural gifts that are to be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; the prohibition against cooking meat with milk; “The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.”
רֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ׃

G‑d promises to bring the people of Israel to the Holy Land, and warns them against assuming the pagan ways of its current inhabitants. The people of Israel proclaim, “We will do and we will hear all that G‑d commands us.”

Naaseh Venishma

וַיִּקַּח֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית וַיִּקְרָ֖א בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה וְנִשְׁמָֽע׃
Then he took the record of the covenant and read it aloud to the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will faithfully do!”

Doing and Listening Go Hand in Hand. Na’aseh ve’nishma is one of the best-known phrases related to the Shavuot holiday. Standing at Sinai we declared, “Na’aseh, we will do” and nishmah, from the word shema, “we will hear.” “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening.”-Paul Simon “Sound of Silence”. Interpreting nishma as listening is important, actively hearing, Na’aseh ve’nishma as, “We will do and we will listen,” is relevant and should never be forgotten.

“Na’aseh V’Nishma” (we will do and we will hear) is one of the major challenges facing the Jewish people today. This proclamation, made by the people of Israel when they stood at Mount Sinai, is regarded as a national declaration of total subjugation to G-d’s will, accepting the Torah in its entirety without question, is literally the opposite of today’s world, which offers unlimited possibilities, independent thinking, and endless freedom. The breakdown of authority and the rejection of commitment is posing challenges to the continuity of Jewish tradition.

Rashbam on Exodus 24:7:2 נעשה ונשמע , “we will carry out what G-d has said already, and we are also prepared to listen (obey) to what G-d will command from here on in

Learning versus Deeds

קידושין מ:23-29
תלמוד גדול או מעשה גדול נענה רבי טרפון ואמר מעשה גדול נענה ר”ע ואמר תלמוד גדול נענו כולם ואמרו תלמוד גדול שהתלמוד מביא לידי מעשה. Kiddushin 40b:8 Is learning greater or deed greater? Rabbi Tarfon answered, deed is greater. Rabbi Eli’ezer responded and said, learning is greater. Then someone else responded to both of them and said that learning is greater, as learning leads to deed.

Silver From the Land of Israel

From the writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook- by Rabbi Chanan Morrison, “The ultimate moment of glory for the Jewish people, their greatest hour, occurred as G-d revealed His Torah at Mount Sinai. The Israelites remarkably pledged, Na’aseh v’nishma-“We will do and we will listen to all that G-d has declared” (Exodus 24:7). They made two promises: to do, and to listen. The order is crucial. They promised to keep the Torah, even before knowing why.

Secret used by the angels

The Midrash (Shabbat 88a) related that, in merit of this pledge of loyalty, the angels rewarded each Jew with two crowns. And a Heavenly Voice explained, “Who revealed to My children this secret used by the angels?”What was so special about this vow, “We will do and we will listen”? On the contrary, would not fulfilling mitzvot with understanding and enlightenment be a superior level of Torah observance? And why does the Midrash refer to this form of unquestioning allegiance as a “secret used by the angels”?

Intuitive knowledge

While wisdom is usually acquired through study and contemplation, there exists in nature an intuitive knowledge that requires no formal education. The Bees for example, naturally knows the optimal geometric shape for building honeycomb cells. Bees have intuitive knowledge. Intuitive knowledge also exists in the spiritual realm. Angels are sublime spiritual entities who do not require extensive Torah study in order to know how to serve G-d. Their holiness is ingrained in their very nature. It is only human beings, prone to being confused by pseudo-scientific indoctrination, who need to struggle in order to return to their pristine spiritual selves. For the Jews who stood at Mount Sinai, it was not only Torah and mitzvot that were revealed. They also discovered their own true, inner essence.- Sefaria

Chag Matan Torah

The Giving of the Torah, marks the day G‑d began the process of giving us the Torah. First we were taught the Ten Commandments. Then, the Torah was communicated to Mosheh on Mount Sinai for 40 days. During that time, G‑d taught Moses all the rules of how to interpret and understand the Torah. The rest of the Torah was communicated in stages throughout the Jews’ 40-year wondering in the desert. We were no longer the descendants of a great man named Abraham, or simply a Middle-Eastern people known as the Israelites. We became G‑d’s people, chosen to learn His Torah and keep its laws. It’s a moment we celebrate every year on the festival of Shavuot.

Mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro

Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (a leading Chasidic rebbe in Poland 18th-19th century) observes that the mitzvot in Parshat Mishpatim fall primarily under the category of “bein adam l’chavero”, commandments governing relationships between man and man. Before Parashat Mishpatim, we studied the development of the relationship between Man and G-d through a series of open miracles culminating on Har Sinai experience. Now the Torah shifts gears and focuses on mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro. The Gemara states, just as G-d is merciful and compassionate, we should be merciful and compassionate. Through mitzvot bein adam l’chveiro, the perfection of our interactions with other human beings, we deepen our relationship with G-d

The holiday of Purim is also “mitzvot bein adam lechavero”, being generous by giving gifts to the poor, matanos l’evyonim, and friendship – mishloach manot (exchanging gifts of food). G-d essence is chesed. By being a mentsch, we emulate G-d. In other words, by loving your neighbor as yourself you emulate G-d. Kol Tuv.

The 613 Mitzvot

In The Torah there are 613 commandments, mitzvot, also known as the Law of Moses (תרי״ג מצוות‎, taryag mitzvot). The 613 mitzvot are first recorded in the 3rd century CE, when Rabbi Simlai mentioned it in a sermon that is recorded in Talmud Makkot 23b.

The 613 commandments include 248 “positive commandments”, to perform an act (mitzvot aseh), and 365 “negative commandments”, to abstain from certain acts (mitzvot lo taaseh). The negative commandments number 365, which coincides with the number of days in the solar year, and the positive commandments number 248, a number ascribed to the number of bones and main organs in the human body.

Though the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval rabbinic literature, including many works listing or arranged by the mitzvot. The most famous of these was an enumeration of the 613 commandments by Maimonides, The Rambam.

Many of the mitzvot cannot be observed now, following the destruction of the Second Temple, although they still retain religious significance. According to one standard reckoning, there are 77 positive and 194 negative commandments that can be observed today, of which there are 26 commands that apply only within the Land of Israel. Furthermore, there are some time-related commandments from which women are exempt (examples include shofar, sukkah, lulav, tzitzit and tefillin). Some depend on the special status of a person in Judaism (such as kohanim), while others apply only to men or only to women.

Mishpatim Mitzvot

according to Rambam Organized by Parsha. based on Wikipedia and http://www.vaadrv.org/rambam613mitzvot.asp

ONE BIG IMPORTANT NOTE WHEN USING THIS LISTING: This listing is not all inclusive. Rambam may site multiple sources for a mitzvah is his works but this list currently only gives one source for each mitzvah.

The 51 Mitzvot in Parashat Mishpatim

Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws Ex. 21:2
Redeem Jewish maidservants Ex. 21:8
Betroth the Jewish maidservant Ex. 21:8
The master must not sell his maidservant Ex. 21:8
Not to withhold food, clothing, and sexual relations from your wife Ex. 21:10
Not to strike your father and mother Ex. 21:15
Not to curse your father and mother Ex. 21:17
The court must implement laws against the one who assaults another or damages another’s property Ex. 21:18
The courts must carry out the death penalty of the sword Ex. 21:20
Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned Ex. 21:28
The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox Ex. 21:28
The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit Ex. 21:33
The court must implement punitive measures against the thief Ex. 21:37
The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating Ex. 22:4
The court must judge the damages incurred by fire Ex. 22:5
The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid guard Ex. 22:6
The courts must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitter, or denier Ex. 22:8
The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard Ex. 22:9
The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower Ex. 22:13
The court must fine one who sexually seduces a maiden Ex. 22:15-16
The court must not let the sorcerer live Ex. 22:17
Not to cheat a convert monetarily Ex. 22:20
Not to insult or harm a convert with words Ex. 22:20
Not to oppress the weak Ex. 22:21
Lend to the poor and destitute Ex. 22:24
Not to press them for payment if you know they don’t have it Ex. 22:24
Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, witness, or write the promissory note Ex. 22:24
Not to blaspheme Ex. 22:27
Not to curse judges Ex. 22:27
Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin Ex. 22:27
Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate them in their proper order Ex. 22:28
Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded Ex. 22:30
Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present Ex. 23:1
Transgressors must not testify Ex. 23:1
Decide by majority in case of disagreement Ex. 23:2
The court must not execute through a majority of one; at least a majority of two is required Ex. 23:2
Help another remove the load from a beast which can no longer carry it Ex. 23:5
A judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor Ex. 23:6
The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial evidence Ex. 23:7
Judges must not accept bribes Ex. 23:8
To leave free all produce which grew in that year Ex. 23:11
To rest on the seventh day Ex. 23:12
Not to turn a city to idolatry Ex. 23:13
Not to swear in the name of an idol Ex. 23:13
To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering) Ex. 23:14
Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven Ex. 23:18
Not to leave the fat overnight Ex. 23:18
Not to eat meat and milk cooked together Ex. 23:19
To set aside the first fruits and bring them to the Temple Ex. 23:19
To serve the Almighty with daily prayer Ex. 23:25
Not to let them dwell in the Land of Israel Ex. 23:33

Check out YedidYah Psalm 96 “Yiram Hayam” Music by Rabbi Yakira Yedidia https://youtu.be/aTBD4i9nvXw

The Priestly Blessing

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ- May the LORD bless you and guard you
יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ -May the LORD make His face shed light upon you and be gracious unto you
יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם- May the LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace

Check out YedidYah “The Priestly Blessing” Birkat Hakohanim. Music by Rabbi Yakira Yedidia https://youtu.be/YNE11QdEMN0

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This blog article was inspired by chabbad.org