Exodus chapter Ch 22 v 3. A lesson in justice and returning to Hashem!

Shabbos insight Mishpatim:

Exodus chapter: Ch 22 v 3.

A lesson in justice and returning to Hashem!

 

 

The verse states:

“If the stolen article is found in his possession whether a bull, a donkey, or a lamb, live ones he shall pay twofold.”

I saw a brilliant insight brought down by Rav Menachem Schneersohn the late Rebbe of the Lubavitch community. He ties this twofold penalty to another penalty mentioned later in Deuteronomy by Moses.

Deuteronomy  Ch 19 v 19

"Then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you."

Summary

You see for justice to take effect the thief must not only return the item he stole, but must be put into a situation where his action has the same consequence as what his victim would or had suffered. In other words he must be made to suffer and endure the pain that his victim would have or did endure, only then will he fully be able to realise why his action was so wrong, and regret the evil he had done... a scary thought to contemplate when doing actions that may have a negative impact on another, a good deterrent to bear in mind, always thinking of the impact of your actions on the target person... :)

 

Have a Great Shabbos

 

Michael.

Exodus 20 v 10 the Torah tells us not to labor on Sabbath - Obligations start at home!

10. but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the L-rd, your G-d; you shall perform no labor, neither you, your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your beast, nor your stranger who is in your cities.

I was asked a question this morning the 16th of Shevat 5774, why the order of the verse " neither you; your son, your daughter,... your animals and the stranger who is in your cities. "

The question my friend Lionel asked us is why a stranger comes after an animal, how could it be the Torah puts the animal before the stranger?  I think it may be because the Torah speaks to its reader, the instruction is to ourselves and what we can control and influence best.  I am suggesting that we are responsible for every fellow, but our responsibility is limited to what is in our power to do and starts with those closest to us.

We can obviously control ourselves best, then we can have influence over our children that live under our roof, and the order says responsibility starts with those in our own home, then our own animals they are all in our domain.  Once we have the immediate environment taken care of we are responsible for those in close proximity.

But start with the Home, and those closest to you... :)

Have a Good Shabbos

Michael.