18 Feb PARASHAT MISHPATIM: THE TORAH’S INTERPERSONAL CODE

Parashat Mishpatim
presents a lengthy
series of civil
laws governing
a wide range of
circumstances. These laws deal with
situations such as theft, property damage,
bodily harm, lending money, people
entrusted with somebody’s object which
was lost or ruined, and other cases.
The Torah introduces this section by
stating, “Ve’eleh Ha’mishpatim Asher
Tasim Lifnehem” – “These are the
statutes which you shall place before
them.” The simple meaning of this verse
is that G-d commanded Moshe to “place”
– that is, to present, or teach – these laws
to the people.
Rav Moshe Alshich (Safed, 1508-1593),
however, offers a deeper explanation of
this introductory verse. He writes that
people might wonder why we need the
Torah to provide us with a system of civil
law. After all, the goal of resolving civil

disputes and maintaining peace in society
can be achieved through man-made laws,
devised by wise legal scholars. We readily
understand that the way to serve G-d, our
ritual obligations and restrictions, require
divine commands, because only He can
decide how He should be served. But
why was it necessary for the Torah to
introduce its own system of civil laws, if
human beings are capable of formulating
their own set of laws?
Rav Moshe Alshich writes that this
question is predicated on a fundamentally
mistaken assumption – that the Mishpatim,
the Torah’s interpersonal code, is aimed
solely at maintaining peace and harmony
in society. If this were the sole purpose
of the Torah’s civil laws, then indeed,
we would rightfully wonder why such a
system is necessary. But this is not true
at all. Rav Moshe Alshich writes that the
Torah’s civil laws are Misvot, spiritually
charged obligations, no less than the
Misvot Ben Adam La’Makom (between

man and G-d). Just as we perform a
spiritually powerful act when we put on
Tefillin, recite Kedusha, and fulfill other
Misvot, we likewise perform a spiritually
powerful act every time we pay a worker
on time, lend without charging interest,
compensate for damages we caused, and
fulfill our other obligations to our fellow
man. The Torah’s interpersonal code is
inherently sacred, laden with spirituality,
just like the ritual Misvot that we observe.
And, Rav Moshe Alshich adds, just as we
create an angel every time we perform
one of the Misvot Ben Adam La’Makom,
so do we create an angel every time we
perform one of the Misvot Ben Adam
La’habero (between man and his fellow).
This, Rav Moshe Alshich writes, is
the meaning of the verse, “Ve’eleh
Ha’mishpatim Asher Tasim Lifnehem.”
G-d was telling Moshe that observing
these laws – just like observing the
Torah’s other commands – has the effect
of creating angels who remain with us

and protect us for all time. Moshe was
told to “place” these laws “before” us,
meaning, to empower us by teaching us
these laws, through which we have the
ability to produce new angels.
The Alshich here reminds us that we must
never distinguish between the two basic
categories of Torah law – our obligations
to Hashem, and our obligations to one
another. Both are integral components
of Torah life. Treating other people with
kindness, respect, courtesy and integrity
is no less a Misva than prayer, Torah
study, Tefillin or Mezuza. The Misvot we
fulfill in our interpersonal relations are
sacred, and bring us great merit and great
rewards, just like any other Misva.