MY DAILY LIFE TORAH COACH:
Parshat Mishpatim n.19

Parashat Mishpatim  follows the dramatic revelation at Mount Sinai and shifts from divine pronouncements to detailed civil and ethical laws. It covers a vast range of topics, servitude, damages, property rights, judicial integrity, social justice, and obligations to the vulnerable. These laws establish the foundation of a just society, emphasizing that holiness is not abstract but embedded in daily interactions.

At its core, Mishpatim teaches that law and morality are intertwined. The Torah does not merely legislate; it demands ethical responsibility, fair treatment of workers, care for the stranger, and the pursuit of justice over personal gain. The commandment “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”  is a powerful reminder of historical memory shaping moral action.

The parasha underscores that justice is not merely an institutional function but a divine imperative, shaping how individuals and societies reflect God’s will in the world.