06 Feb PARASHAT MISHPATIM: OUR RELIGIOUS RESUME

Parashat Mishpatim
presents a long series
of laws, involving
mainly interpersonal
relations. We find here,
for example, the prohibition against speaking
insensitively to a widow or orphan, the
responsibility to compensate for damages
which one caused, laws governing liability for
damages to people’s possessions with which
one is entrusted, and so on.
This Parasha begins with the words “Ve’ele
Ha’mishpatim Asher Tasim Lifnehem” –
“And these are the laws which you [Moshe]
shall place before them.” Rashi notes that this
verse, unusually, begins with the letter “Vav”
(“Ve-”), which means “and.” As we were all
taught in school, a new section should not
begin with the conjunction “and.”
Rashi explains that this letter is very
significant, in that it connects the laws of
Parashat Mishpatim with the laws mentioned
at the end of the previous Parasha, Parashat
Yitro – specifically, the Ten Commandments.
The Torah connected these two Parashiyot
with the letter “Vav,” Rashi explains, to teach
us that just as the Ten Commandments were
pronounced at Sinai, the laws in Parashat
Mishpatim were likewise transmitted to our

ancestors at Mount Sinai.
If we would be asked what makes us
“religious,” to put together a “resume”
affirming our religiosity, we would probably
include things such as Shabbat observance,
eating only kosher, adhering to the laws
of Taharat Ha’mishpaha (family purity),
Halachically-appropriate attire, and praying
three times a day. Certainly, these are crucially
important components of a religious life that
must be included in this resume.
But there are many other things that are no
less integral to a religious resume. Being
courteous, honest, hard-working, speaking
respectfully to all, especially to one’s spouse,
children and other family members, giving
charity, treating one’s employees properly,
extending a helping hand to people in need
– these are no less important parts of our
religious resume than Shabbat, Kashrut, and
praying with a Minyan.
It is told that somebody once approached Rav
Shimon Schwab (1908-1995) and asked him
to explain the phenomenon of religious Jews
who conduct their business affairs dishonestly
and cheat on their taxes. He replied, “How do
I explain this? The same way I explain how
religious Jews could eat on Yom Kippur.”
The person didn’t understand what the Rabbi

meant. “Somebody who eats on Yom Kippur
isn’t religious!” he said.
“And somebody who lies and cheats on his
taxes isn’t religious,” Rav Schwab said.
Rav Yitzchak Hutner (1906-1980) explained
that this is the meaning of Rashi’s comment
regarding the “Vav” at the beginning of
Parashat Mishpatim. The Torah wanted to
emphasize to us that the laws in this Parasha,
which deal with proper interpersonal relations,
are no less integral to religion than our
obligations to Hashem. The laws of Parashat
Mishpatim were also given to us at Mount
Sinai together with the rest of the Torah.
Dealing with people kindly, honestly and
courteously is no less of a religious obligation
than Shabbat and Kashrut.
The Yahrtzheit of Rav Yisrael Salanter
(1810-1883), the founder of the Mussar
movement, is 25 Shebat. Appropriately, this
day is always around the time of the reading
of Parashat Mishpatim, the Torah’s code of
interpersonal conduct. Rav Yisrael Salanter
very strongly emphasized the importance of
our interpersonal obligations as an integral
part of Torah life.
It is told that before his students went to
bake Masot for Pesach at the factory, they
approached him to ask which stringencies

he felt they should observe. He replied,
“The woman who works at the factory is a
widow – remember to speak to her kindly and
respectfully.”
This was the most important thing for them
to remember. There are numerous stringencies
which are appropriate to observe when
baking Masot for Pesach, but they are only
stringencies, which are not required on the
level of strict Torah law. Speaking respectfully
to a widow, however, is an outright Torah
obligation. This takes priority.
This is the lesson of the letter “Vav” at the
beginning of Parashat Mishpatim – that the
way we deal with people is also part of Torah,
and must be included in our religious resume.