From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, February 21,22, 2025/ 23,24 Shevat 5785
The Torah portion has a variety of civil and criminal laws that are presented, including treatment of slaves, crimes of murder and kidnapping, personal injuries, damages through neglect or stealing, offenses against others through lying, witchcraft, idolatry, oppression, unfair business practices, and unjust conduct of judges. Next, the Israelites are reminded to be sensitive to the needs of strangers. Rules presenting for the Sabbath, the Sabbatical Year, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. The Commandment not to cook a kid in its mother’s milk, and the ratification of the Covenant.
Since the preceding Torah portion recorded the Ten Commandments, clearly set the foundation stones of Judaism, but the words “these are the ordinances” which introduce this Torah portion are the preamble of our “constitution. The civil, property, and ethical laws are ordinances which concretize and establish in practice the spirit of the Ten Commandments. The other important Judaic concepts and values are caring for the stranger, lending a poor person money, and protection of the weak.
As Jews our ancestors experienced the painful life of four hundred years of cruel slavery under the Pharaohs in Egypt. Yes, Jewish people have ways to deal with strangers (Exodus 22:20,23:9), which calls for sensitivity and justice are found in thirty-six different places in the Torah, mentioned more than any other mitzvah.
Keep in mind that the Jewish people survived over three millennia because of a myriad of factors. One, the Jews were knowledgeable in many fields in the societies they dwelled. Next, the Jewish people encultured themselves to the secular world, while still retaining their Judaic practices. Sometimes, even hiding that they were Jews, one point in time is the Spanish Jews during the Inquisition, and another point in time was the Holocaust.
Today, there are immigrating and migrating people throughout the countries of the world that may not adhere to the Jewish ethics, values, and enculturation into their new countries. However, the Jewish people and some other groups do practice enculturation and bring many enhancements to the countries that they will one day call home.
The Torah and the Haftarah are connected through the theme of HOPE for strangers. Hope for peaceful ways to settle into their new country. The Hope for freedom to practice their faith. That would be a wonderful world, indeed!
Shabbat Shalom v’ Am Ysrael Chai,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
