The situation is as follows: The Israelites stand at the foot of the smoking Mount Sinai. God has already delivered the Ten Commandments through a spectacular and frightening display of visions. The people see the voices, hear the shofar, and move fearfully, standing at a distance and asking for Moses to mediate.

Here begins the parashah Mishpatim: God opens and says to Moses: "And these are the judgments which you shall set before them." A long and varied list of laws and commandments unfolds before us: laws concerning slaves, a person who causes harm – bodily injury, an ox that causes harm – bodily injury, financial damage, and dozens of other laws. I can picture the majesty of the Israelites in ancient times, yet at the same time, I feel as if I have entered a law school classroom or a courtroom.

To what extent are these laws and commandments, concepts and expressions relevant to our times? Let's start with language. Expressions such as: underground thief, sabbatical arrangements, three pilgrimages, harvest festival, harvest festival, pierce his ear with an awl, do not cook a kid in its mother's milk, and also – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth... and so on and so forth. These are common expressions in modern Hebrew, and we still use them today.

And what about the laws themselves? The laws concerning slaves, their ownership and freedom, for example: "When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years. And on the seventh day, he shall go out free. (Exodus 21:2) At first glance, slavery seems irrelevant to our times. But in fact, slavery ended in the United States only 160 years ago, its consequences still reverberate today, and human trafficking is still a real and problematic phenomenon. In general, if we broaden our view from "slave' to "employee," we can agree that the issue of the relationship between powerful employers and powerless employees is still very relevant today. What about the rulings on the issues raised? Here, the situation is more complex. Let's look at a few examples: What will be your punishment if your ox gores another person? What is your responsibility? "And if an ox gores a man or a woman and they die..." (Exodus 21:8). A bit excessive today, right? So let's adapt the situation to our times: What is your responsibility if your dog bites and injures another person? Or another question: What is your responsibility if your dog is known to be aggressive and has injured or killed a person? According to the Mishpatim section, you must be very careful and take responsibility.... And if the ox gored yesterday or the day before, and its owner was warned but did not guard it, And if a man or woman is killed, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner shall also be put to death. (Exodus 21:9). Would you sign this sentence?

Another example: What would happen if someone got hurt because you dug a hole and didn't cover it up? And if a man opens a pit Or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, The owner of the pit shall pay; he shall give money, and the ox or donkey shall be restored to him; and he that is slain shall be his. (Exodus 21:33-34). Is this law relevant today? In your opinion, if there is a hole in the sidewalk that has not been repaired, is the municipality responsible for compensating you for the damage if you are injured? If so, in this parashah we are exposed to a long list of laws and judgments dealing with issues of
Responsibility, guilt, intent. Many of the ideas are still relevant today and even serve as a foundation.
Moral for us.

However, given the severity of the sentences, I suggest that anyone considering living according to these rules under a halachic state should think again! The rulings of today's courts, even when they pursue justice, offer more humane and compassionate solutions and responses than those offered in ancient times. In light of the many rulings that mandate death, I would certainly not want to live in a society that operates according to the letter of the Torah, in a state governed by Jewish law. We must remain vigilant.

Finally, what about the issues of morality and social justice raised in the parashah Mishpatim? Similar to a person's responsibility as a result of negligence, issues of morality and social justice are also relevant to our private and public lives today. I invite you to take a special look at the collection of verses that, in my opinion, form the moral foundation of our people. A moral foundation that I hope we have not forgotten, that we must not forget, that we must fight for: justice for the poor, not lying, not taking bribes, knowing the soul of the stranger in our land."Do not pervert justice in the judgment of your poor. Keep away from false accusations, and do not put to death the innocent and righteous, for I will not justify the wicked.
And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. And you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of the stranger,you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 23:6-8)