Torah: Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18)
Haftarah: (Jeremiah 34:8-22, 33:25-26)
This Shabbat Torah portion:
A variety of civil and criminal laws are presented, including treatment of slaves, crimes of murder and kidnapping, personal injuries, damages through neglect or stealing, offenses against others lying, witchcraft, idolatry, oppression, unfair business practices, and unjust conduct of judges. Israelites are reminded to be sensitive to the needs of strangers. There are rules presented for the Sabbath, the Sabbatical Year, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. The Commandment not to cook a kid in its mother’s milk. The ratification of the covenant.
The Mitzvot of lending a poor person money (Exodus 22:24). A loan to prevent a poor person from falling into poverty is considered one of the most meritorious of deeds, and among the greatest acts of lovingkindness that can be shown to a living person. Because of the feeling for the poor, free loan societies are found in every well organized Jewish community. Such societies loan money to the poor without charging interest.
Protection of the weak is another mitzvah. Widows, orphans, and strangers were to be protected and given every consideration. These are all people with whom fate had dealt harshly and who were likely to need special protection in order to survive. All Israel had suffered the fate of strangers in Egypt, and thereafter stranger, widow, and orphan together became a touchstone of biblical justice. (Exodus 22:21)
If you know anyone that needs a misheberach, please contact me.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
Purim is Coming!!! Even though this coming week will be Adar I Purim will be in Adar II my recipe can be made and frozen! Great to make them and put in a shalach manot (gift baskets for purim).
Hamantaschen recipe
2c flour, 1/2c sugar, ¼ tsp salt, 2tsp baking powder, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 eggs, beaten,
¼ LB butter or margarine, fillings: Prune jam, apricot jam, poppy seed pie filling, chocolate chips or nuts.
Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter or margarine. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dough until it forms a ball. Chill dough, then roll out on a floured board. Cut small circles, about
2 inches in diameter, using a drinking glass rim. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle. Fold over and pinch dough into three sides to form a triangle. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Each oven varies on time of baking.
Enjoy. 🙂
