TORAH 4 TEENS

BY TEENS NCSY ISRAEL

Rose Schwartz Gush Etzion Chapter Director A Bull, A Donkey, A Lamb, Oh My!

Mishpatim picks up right after one of the most impactful spiritual moments in Jewish history with Moshe going over a series of seemingly mundane Halachot. One example of this can be found in Shemot 22:8—“For any sinful word, for a bull, for a donkey, for a lamb, for a garment, for any lost article, concerning which he will say that this is it, the plea of both parties shall come to the judges.”

How can this Halacha strengthen Beni Yisroael’s bond with HaShem after they just experienced one of the greatest spiritual moments on Har Sinai?

This pasuk uses the word “Elokim” in order to describe the role of the Judge. Reb Noson of Breslov asks why here does the Torah choose to write “Elokim” over “Dayan”?

The Torah chooses here to describe physical objects as coming under the jurisdiction of “Elokim” in order to teach us that everything in this world contains certain aspects of Godliness— “Elokut”. HaShem brings the physical into existence, and the Godliness he imparts within the objects are what give them their purpose along the way.

Once people turn to courts to settle their disputes about their physical objects, the pasuk is coming to teach us that no matter what the judge decides at the end of the day our physical belongings and comforts really come from and belong to HaShem. This pasuk enables Bnei Yisrael to raise the physicality of the world to a spiritual level, following the spiritual high of Matan Torah.

Aliyah Derfler 11th Grade, Neve Daniel

Explanations on Naaseh V’nishmah

What do the words, “naaseh v’nishma” mean? “Naaseh” literally means “we will do.” “Nishma” could mean “we will hear”, “we will obey”, or “we will understand.”

The Talmud and Rashi say the phrase means “we will do and we will hear.” That is, the Jews were saying that they totally believed in Hashem, and so they agreed to do His will even before hearing what it was. The Sforno explains one reason why they would agree without knowing more: he says the Jews’ statement is two words representing one idea: the Jews were saying they would do what Hashem asked simply because they wanted to be connected to Him and hear more from Him.

However, reading the events in order,

Bnei Yisrael said “naaseh v’nishma” after they had already heard part of the Torah. With this in mind, the Rashbam says that the simple meaning of the phrase, “naaseh v’nishma” is: we will do what we have already been commanded, and we will obey future commandments. This may suggest that Bnei Israel were willing to accept commandments only after knowing that Hashem had given them

Be’er Tziporah a"h - Bottled Water Gemach

Walking down King George St. in Jerusalem and want a cold bottle of water?

Come help yourself to a bottle at 52 King George.

In loving memory of Yoni’s wife

Tziporah a"h, a true Eishes Chayil, always full of chessed, kindness and laughter, and brought life and strength to so many people, that she touched! She was like Aron, who loved peace and pursued peace.

Yoni thanks Hashem for having the opportunity of having Tziporah in his life, to learn of her caring, patience and happiness, to overcome her challenges. May Tziporah's Neshama be a light onto the world, in a time of darkness, and may her Neshama shine to Gan Eden. Yoni misses Tziporah with tears in his eyes, as Hashem gave him a gift, a crown jewel, now he returns her to Hashem. With thanks and Toda. Love, Yoni

To help refill the supplysend tax deductible donations for Be’er Tziporah a"h Bottled Water Gemach to Chabad of RechaviaRabbi Yisroel Goldberg email

Rabbi@JerusalemChabad.org

02 800-1717 www.JerusalermChabad.org/DonateShekels and not simply because Moshe told them that Hashem commanded something new.

One last view is that “naaseh v’nishma” means “we will do and we will understand.” When Bnei Yisrael said they will do before they understand, they were conveying an understanding of a fact about life. We sometimes only understand something by doing it. Like the saying, ‘don’t judge someone before you walk in their shoes.’ We only understand music by listening, we only understand leading by being a leader, and we only understand teaching by being a teacher. It’s the same story with Judaism. We only actually understand Torah by following the commandments. Doing leads to understanding.

Shabbat Shalom!