OTHER WRITERS ON PARSHAS MISHPATIM

A roundup of this week's reading material.


Mevaseretzion states that some mitzvos exist independent of a rational basis, and provides a lengthy quote from HaRav Kook which is well worth reading:
http://mevaseretzion.blogspot.com/2007/02/mishpatim-animals-and-man.html



Moshe David Tokayer, starting with the Sfas Emes' first ma'amar on Mishpatim, continuing with the Chidushei HaRim, and going further:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/mishpatim-5631-first-maamar.html

And the Sfas Emes' second ma'amar on Mishpatim:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/mishpatim-5631-second-maamar.html



A witty insight by Steg:
http://boroparkpyro.blogspot.com/2007/02/moove-over.html
[Oh, and a pun. Don't forget the pun.]



I myself have nothing to add about this weeks reading. I'm still recovering from a three-week dalliance with strep-throat. But my appetite has returned, and my energy is up again (you may have noticed a certain giddiness on my other blog).

RABBI MAROOF ON PARSHAS MISHPATIM VE SHEKALIM

This is the week of Shabbes Parshas Shekalim, one of four Shabbasos not coinciding with a holiday or a rosh chodesh, on which customarily an extra portion is read - necessitating the taking out of two Torah scrolls.

On Shabbes Parshas Shekalim, the extra passage comes from Ki Sisa, reminding us of the half-shekel offering.

[The other three special shabbasos are Parshas Zachor (zachor = remember; featuring the final part of Parshas Ki Setzei - remember what Amalek did to you), Parshas Parah (from Chukas, featuring the red heifer, the 'parah adumah'), and Parshas HaChodesh (from Bo, about the first day of Nissan and the sanctification of the new moon).
Parshas Ki Setzei: Dvarim 21:10 - 25:19 "Ki seitzei lamilchama al oivecha unesana Adonai Elohecha beyadecha veshavisa shiveyo" (When you go to war against your enemies, and HaShem your God, delivers them into your hand, and you will emprison it in emprisonment).
Parshas Chukat: Bamidbar 19:1 - 22:1 "Zos chukas ha Torah" (this is what the Torah decrees).
Parshas Bo: Shmos 10:1-13:16 "Vayomer Yhwh el-Moshe bo el-Paro" (And the Lord said to Moses 'go in to Pharaoh...')]


Here are Rabbi Joshua Maroof's thoughts about why this parsha is added:
http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com/2007/02/parashat-shekalim_1734.html
He sees a collective share and atonement in the annual half shakel contribution, and posits the reading of the parsha as education preceding the mitzva.


Rabbi Maroof also finishes discussing Parshas Yisro here:
http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com/2007/02/doing-justice.html
There is a basis of justice in the Torah, and truth is valued greatly.


Regarding this week's sidra, Mishpatim, Rabbi Maroof compares chukim (statutes, decrees) and mishpatim (judgements, ordinances), and quotes the Rambam:
http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com/2007/02/hukkim-and-mishpatim.html
The chukim are those commandments which have non-obvious reasons, some of which cannot be understood at all, whereas mishpatim are like the ten commandments, relatively straightforward and having clear raisons d'etre.


Note: Parshas Shekalim describes how the number of the Hebrews in the wilderness was counted by totalling the half-shekel contributions for the construction and maintenance of the Mishkan, each contribution being a half shekel.

There is a symbolic link between Shekalim, and Purim (coming up soon), as both reference a census - by shekalim in the one, by purim (lots) in the other.

RABBI MAROOF ON PARSHAS YISRO

Here is what rabbi Joshua Maroof writes about this weeks Parsha:
http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com/2007/02/greater-than-all-gods.html

In the post, Rabbi Maroof discusses the character of Yisro and the impact that recent events (plagues, departure from Egypt, parting of the Sea of Reeds) had made upon him.

Quote: "Yitro's understanding of Hashem was primarily rooted in his recognition and appreciation of the beauty of Divine justice. "

It is a good post, and worth reading twice.

OTHER WRITERS ON PARSHAS YISRO

Firstly, I apologize. I still haven't quite finished wrestling with Parshas Beshalach (and may decide to merely skim over Shirat HaYam - which is at once both gloatsome and and an expression of gratitude for divine intercession), and have sofar only barely touched on Yisro, which though shorter is no less interesting and provoking. And at present I have the mother of all colds, which is a bit distracting.

[Pieces on both those parshas will be posted here, but the posting time will not be tied in to reality, in order to maintain sequence.]



This week's writers on Parshas Yisro:

Moshe David Tokayer, Sfas Emes' first ma'amar on Yisro:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/yisro-5632-first-maamar.html

Moshe David Tokayer, Sfas Emes' second ma'amar on Yisro:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/yisro-5632-second-maamar.html

Moshe David Tokayer, Sfas Emes' third ma'amar on Yisro:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/yisro-5632-third-maamar.html

[Note: The Sfas Emes (Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter, second Rebbe of Ger, grandson of the Chiddushei HaRim) has sometimes surprising, sometimes overwhelming insights, and sees connections which at first seem unusual, but once grasped are both logical and inspiring.
Very little of his writing is available in English, though b'ezras Hashem sometime soon Dr. Nosson Chayim Leff may finally publish a sefer based on his shiurim on the Sfas Emes, and Artscroll has published writings by Rabbi Yosef Stern on the thought of the Sfas Emes. A five volume set of the Sfas Emes was published a number of years ago in Hebrew that is worth acquiring.]



While not strictly a piece about Parshas Yisro, Mevaseretzion has an interesting post (here: http://mevaseretzion.blogspot.com/2007/02/marriage-sinai-and-responsibility.html ) which touches on both the parsha and Sinai, while delving into an array of matters. Hard to describe. Read it.

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Note also that Margavriel has an interesting bit (here: http://margavriel.blogspot.com/2007/02/porosho-post.html ) about psook 14:7(*), which is from last week's parsha.
So far naught this week. He's gone to Jerusalem, and may still be adapting. And is perhaps jet-lagged.


(*) For your reference, psook 14:7 "Vayikach shesh-meot rechev bachur vechol rechev Mitzrayim veshalishim al-kulo" (And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them). Rashi's opinion is, predictably, disturbing. But Rashi's comment is limited to a war situation.

OTHER WRITERS ON PARSHAS BESHALACH

A roundup of various other bloggers.


Dovbear:
http://dovbear.blogspot.com/2007/02/dovbear-on-parsha.html
"Warning: The views expressed in this post are Jewish, but not Orthodox. If reading non-Orthodox Torah makes you angry, please do not read this post. Also, you are advised to take a razor blade to your mikraot gedolot and excise much of the Ibn Ezra, some of the Siforno and Abravanel, and select Rashis and Rambans."


Mevaseretzion:
http://mevaseretzion.blogspot.com/2007/02/beshalach-awakening-from-below.html
"After triumphantly marching out of the ruins of a shattered Egypt, the Jewish People find themselves at the sea's edge. There seems to be no way forward, and the way back is blocked by the remnants of the Egyptian army, intent on reclaiming their escaping slaves."


Moshe David Tokayer with a ma'amar from the Chidushei HaRim on TuB'Shvat:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/sfas-emes-does-not-have-maamar_02.html

Moshe David Tokayer, Sfas Emes' second ma'amar on Beshalach:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/02/beshalach-5631-second-maamar.html

Moshe David Tokayer, Sfas Emes' first ma'amar on Beshalach:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/2007/01/beshalach-5631-first-maamar.html



My own notes on this parsha are an impossible mess at the moment, so the posting will be delayed. You might say that I'm rim deep in the reeds, or that my chariot is stuck. Sorry. Bad joke. I can hear joyfull singing from the bank, and the sound of tambourines. But I'm not there yet.