Dedicated in loving memory of Merton Firestone z”l Moshe ben Avraham z”l
g n i h t e Som e n o y r e v for E
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Parshat Mishpatim 26 Shevat 5776 5 February 2016
Service Times Shabbat (Mevarchim) Kabbalat Shabbat
16:40
Page No.s
(Candle Lighting)
16:40
Shacharit
09:00
Leining
10:00
Kiddush
12:00
Artscroll Gutnick Hertz
Security team: Grey
Leining Haftarah 416 478 306
1156 1411 323
Followed by Mincha
Shabbat terminates
17:52
Ma’ariv
18:10
Weekday Shacharit
Ma’ariv Only
Sun
09:00
19:30
Mon
07:00
19:30
Tues*
06:45
19:30
Wed*
06:45
Thur Fri
Is Being A Nice Guy A Mitzvah? At first glance, the detailed day-to-
to strive towards. The laws of Lashon
day behaviour laws given in Parashat
Hora – not gossiping or telling tales – are
19:30
Mishpatim seem to contrast with the
derived from the verse (Shemot 23:1)
07:00
19:30
grandeur of the 10 Commandments in
“Do not bear a false report” – a standard
07:00
16:55**
last week’s Parasha. In fact they interrupt
that would leave most newspapers with
16:55
the account of Matan Torah. But Rabbi
many blank pages were they to adopt it!
Yissocher Frand points out that in order
Similarly, we are told to help our enemy
to properly accept the Torah we must
before our friend if we see them struggling
first know how to be a mensch. The mitz-
with their donkey (Shemot 23:5) or, today,
vot that direct our interaction with other
fixing a puncture – no other society in the
people have to be part of our relationship
world expects such ethical altruism.
Candle Lighting
*Rosh Chodesh **Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat
Chayim Arukim
to Hilary Goorney on the loss of her father and to all those who have Yarzheit in the coming week as follows Mon
Thought For The Week
with Hashem, according to the principle
David Sheldon
Mother
that ‘Derech Eretz Kadma LaTorah’ –
In the final analysis the juxtaposition of
9 Feb 30 Shevat
Harvey Beaver
Brother
good behaviour precedes adherence to
the mitzvot between man and man and
Wed
Sonya Bower Joanne Feldman Rena Caplan
Mother Mother Mother
the Torah.
between man and G-d shows us that our
Linda Arnold Gilda Leinhardt
Father Brother
It is also true that without the Torah, we
divinely mandated and not optional, man-
would not know how to behave. Some
made rules.
8 February 29 Shevat
Tues
10 Feb 1 Adar I
שבת
13 Feb 4 Adar I
Kiddushim
standards of Derech Eretz (behaviour) are
6 February Ruth & Gordon Rosenthal
beyond what might be considered social
13 February Danielle & Andrew Matlow
morality’ that Bnei Yisrael are expected
20 February Louise & Scott Marshall
Rabbi Joel Portnoy
of the mitzvot in Parashat Mishpatim go norms and mandate a level of ‘super
Shabbat Weather AM Showers 7o High 3o Overnight Low
Parsha
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First Aliyah - 19 verses Discusses laws pertaining to servants, a husband’s obligations towards his wife, punishments for murder, manslaughter, kidnapping and abusing parents, and the penalties for injuring people. Second Aliyah - 21 verses Continues with laws of personal injury: the punishment for killing or injuring a servant and for causing a woman to miscarry. The Torah then shifts its focus to liabilities for damages caused by a person’s possessions or his actions. The section concludes with a person’s right to self-defense. Third Aliyah - 23 verses Discusses liabilities of guardians of another’s possessions, a borrower, and a renter. Also discusses the punishment for seducing a young woman, sorcery, bestiality and idolatrous sacrifice; prohibitions of harassing a foreigner, widow, or orphan; the mitzvah of lending money to the poor and lending with interest. Fourth Aliyah - 9 verses Discusses prohibitions against cursing a judge or leader, as well as consuming meat that was not ritually slaughtered, perjury, and judicial corruption; sanctifying a first-born son, and helping unload an overburdened animal. Fifth Aliyah - 14 verses The prohibition of bribery. The mitzvah of the Shemitah is introduced, as well as Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, and their pilgrimages to the Holy Temple. Sixth Aliyah - 6 verses G-d says an angel will lead the Israelites into Canaan, and they will be rewarded for removing all traces of idolatry, including victory over all their enemies. Seventh Aliyah - 26 verses Mentions more blessings for entering the Holy Land, as well as the Jews commitment to following the Torah. Moses ascends Mount Sinai for 40 days to collect the Tablets.
ncept The famous co an eye’ of ‘an eye for week’s appears in this T to parsha. It is NO y! all er lit n be take
S L E W
JE
M S I DA
U J F O
Delve into the deeper side of Judaism This week we take a look at the deeper reason why Jews have 613 mitzvot
Mitzvot: Restrictions or Opportunities? The parsha of Mishpatim contains the G-d-given laws which regulate the conduct between a man and his fellow man and the life of the community. Bnei Yisrael were instructed in some of the mishpatim (laws) while they encamped in Marah, before the giving of the Torah, and were taught additional laws after the giving of the Torah while they still stood assembled at Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments were preceded and followed by the teaching of these laws since they are basic to the survival of human civilisation. To the nations, Hashem gave only seven basic laws known as the Noachide Laws. To the Jews, on the other hand, He revealed thousands upon thousands of halachot which deal with all the details concerning claims, damages, and disputes. Why are the Jewish People singled out for the study and fulfillment of all these numerous details, whereas these were never revealed to the other nations of the world? This can be understood through the following parable.
A doctor’s assistant observed as he treated two different patients. To the first, the doctor said to him ‘You can eat whatever you want. There is no need for you to restrict yourself from any food that you would like to eat’. This was surprising since the assistant thought he looked quite healthy. To the second patient he barked, ‘Under no circum-
Many of our halachot are intuitive to most modern societies.
stances are you to eat any of the foods on this list that I give you. It is imperative that you follow this list carefully”. The assistant was confused since this patient looked terrible! He challenged the doctor on his prescriptions. The doctor replied, “The first man, unfortunately, only has weeks to live. He will not recover even with a special diet. Why then should I give him one? Let him enjoy his last few
weeks. The second patient has a very high chance of recovery, as long as he follows those instructions”. The Jewish People are capable of attaining the highest of spiritual levels. Therefore, we are given many detailed halachot to regulate each step of our lives. However, it is not necessary to give these to the other nations. It is also noteworthy that many of our halachot are intuitive to most modern societies. For example, most of us strive to be honest in business. However, since these obvious codes of conduct are also proscribed by Hashem, that means there is are opportunities for us to become G-dly individuals just by following rules that would otherwise come naturally to us. This is part of the neverending love that Hashem shows to His People.
Based on ‘The Midrash Says’ by Rabbi M. Weissman
If you would like to share your words of wisdom, please submit your article of no more than 500 words to nick@hale-community.org.uk
THE BOYS ARE BACK!!!
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QUIZ NIGHT WITH DARRYL AND BARRIE
Sunday 3rd April 7.30pm At Hale Shule £20 per ticket
Light supper included To book your team of 10, please contact
Barrie Bloom 07860 323 663 Darryl Lee 07768 635 797
SAVE THE DATE SUNDAY 5TH JUNE CAR RALLY
Parsha Stats Mishpatim is is the 18th of 54 sedras 6th of 11 in Shemot Written on 185 lines in a Torah (ranks 31st) 118 verses - ranks 22nd (5th in Shemot) 1462 words - ranks 31st (7th in Shemot) 5313 letters - ranks 37th (8th in Shemot)
Did You Know At Mount Sinai, the Jews famously said ‘Na’aseh Ve’nishmah’ - we agree to perform the mitzvot and only learn about them afterwards. Many think they said this in Parshat Yitro, but they actually said it in this week’s parsha! A total of 53 mitzvot are found in this week’s parsha: 23 positive commandments, and 30 prohibitions. That represents 8.65% of all the mitzvot!
QA &
Only 3 parshiyot have more mitzvot. In fact, the top 6 parshiyot account for 337 of the 613 mitzvot: that’s 55% of the Torah’s mitzot in 7.5% of its sidrot! Read through the Parsha in English and find answers to the questions. LOLLIPOPS WILL BE AWARDED TO ANYONE WHO READS THROUGH IT, AND TELLS RABBI NICK THE CORRECT ANSWERS!
How many years should a Hebrew slave serve his master? Which bodily injuries are listed along with ‘an eye for an eye’? Why are we told not to oppress strangers? How many festivals are introduced in this parsha? How many pillars did Moses set up at the foot of Mount Sinai? Which first-born animals require special procedures?
Just For Fun Question: How does Moses make his coffee? Answer: Hebrews it.
Answers: 1. Six. 2. Tooth, Hand, Foot, Burn, Wound, Bruise. 3. For we were strangers in the Land of Egypt. 4. Three. 5. Twelve. BONUS: Cows, Goats & Sheep
G N I K L AHEAD
YOUTH
In The Spotlight
EDUCATION
Louie Goldstone This week’s kiddush is sponsored by Ruth and Gordon Rosenthal, the proud grandparents of Louie Milo Goldstone.
SOCIAL
Louie (Lavi Pinchas) was born in Wythenshawe Hospital last Monday night, to Layla and Ilan Goldstone, and was named at his Brit Milah ceremony in their home, on Wednesday. Louie is the tenth grandchild to Ruth and Gordon, and the third child to Layla and Ilan.
BEYOND HALE
Louie’s siblings - Ethan (5) and Poppy (2) - are absolutely besotted with him, although with Ethan’s busy schedule at North Cheshire and Poppy’s at Hale Nursery, they only get a few hours each day to spend with him! We hope that Louie Milo is a source of great nachas to the family for many years ahead, and we thank Ruth and Gordon for their hospitality.
Mazaltov to If you would like to sponsor an edition of ‘Something For Everyone’, in honour of a simcha or for a yahrzeit, or for any reason, please contact the Shule office on 0161 980 8846 or admin@hale-community.org.uk
Michael Rappaport on the occasion of his grandson’s barmitzvah.