Dvar Torah
From Stealing To Giving
וְאֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶם:
ב כִּי תִקְנֶה עֶבֶד עִבְרִי שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים יַעֲבֹד וּבַשְּׁבִעִת יֵצֵא לַחָפְשִׁי חִנָּם:
(שמות כא:א)
“And these are the laws that you shall put before them. If one buys a slave…” (21:1-2)
After Mount Sinai, the Torah tells us all the laws that relate to how people should treat one another. We would think that the Torah should start with a law that pertains to everyone. Instead, the Torah chooses a law that only pertains to a criminal.
The Torah tells us that if a man steals something and he is not able to pay back what he stole, the Bet Din (Jewish house of law) can sell him as a slave so that he can make money to pay for his deed.
If the punishment needs to fit the crime, why is selling a thief a fair punishment for the crime?
Why does the Torah start with this law?
Maimonides, in reference to the laws of a thief sold as a slave, (the laws of slaves 1:9) teaches us; “If the master has only one good loaf of bread or one cup of good wine, he must give it to his slave. If there is only one pillow, the master must give it to his slave and sleep on the ground himself.”
What is the reason that we treat this criminal like a king, he is being punished for harming someone!?
To answer all these questions, we need to understand what we are trying to teach the thief by punishing him. What he did was steal. Now we show him that there is also something called giving. By the master giving him everything, he can see how we are supposed to live our lives. It is for this reason that the Torah starts with the laws concerning a Jewish slave to teach us and remind us how important giving is.
Shabbat Shalom!
Parsha Questions
1) Why does the account of the building of the משכן start with the מזבח, get interrupted by משפטים (civil laws), and then continue with תרומה (monetary gifts given for the משכן)?
(רש"י שמות כא:א)
2) For how long could a עבד עברי be sold by בית דין? (שמות כא:ב)
3) How would a Jewish person become a עבד עברי before being set free again? (רש"י שמות כא:ב)
4) Could the עבד עברי stay longer with the master if he wanted to? How? (שמות כא:ה-ו)
5) Why is this done at the door post? Why in the ear? (רש"י שמות כא:ו)
6) לפי התורה, what is the punishment of a person who kills intentionally? (רש"י שמות כא:יב)
7) What is the הלכה if one unintentionally kills someone? (שמות כא:יג)
8) If one strikes his parents or curses them, חס ושלום, what is his punishment? In want manner is this done? (שמות כא:טו ועוד עיין ברש"י)
9) What are the 5 aspects of one must pay for if they injured another person? Explain each.
(רש"י שמות כא:כה)
10) Explain עין תחת עין. (רש"י שמות כא:כד)
11) What happens to a עבד כנעני that gets their eye or tooth knocked out? (שמות כא:כו-כז)
12) What is the הלכה regarding a person that creates a בור ברשות הרבים? (שמות כא:לג-לד)
13) When must a גנב pay four or five times as much as what they have stolen? Explain.
(שמות כא:לז ועוד עיין ברש"י)
14) What do we see from the הלכה taught to us of אם במחתרת ימצא הגנב? (רש"י שמות כב:א)
15) What is a thief חייב to pay if the stolen animal is found in their רשות? (שמות כב:ג)
16) כִּי־תֵצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָצְאָה קֹצִים וְנֶאֱכַל גָּדִישׁ אוֹ הַקָּמָה אוֹ הַשָּׂדֶה שַׁלֵּם יְשַׁלֵּם הַמַּבְעִר אֶת־הַבְּעֵרָה:. Why?
(רש"י שמות כב:ה)
17) Name the four שומרים. (שמות כב:ט-טו)
18) Why are we not allowed to hurt a גר in any way? (שמות כב:כ)
19) What will happen to a person who hurts a יתום ואלמנה? (שמות כב:כא-כג)
20) What is the מצוה of אם כסף תלוה את עמי? (רש"י שמות כב:כד)
21) Explain לא תשימו עליו נשך. Why do you think this is the הלכה? (רש"י שמות כב:כד)
22) When does one NOT need to help unload a fallen donkey of your enemy? Explain.
(רש"י שמות כג:ה)
23) What are the שלש רגלים. (שמות כג:ידיט ועוד עיין ברש"י)
24) What is the מצוה of לא תבשל גדי בחלב אמו? (שמות כג:יט)
25) In the end of פרשת משפטים, we find משה ascending to הר סיני. When was this?
(רש"י שמות כד:א)
26) How did the בני ישראל respond to hearing the words of the תורה? (שמות כד:ז)
27) What did משה read to them that got this answer? (רש"י שמות כד:ז)
28) How did Hashem react to this answer of the בני ישראל? (גמרא שבת פח.)
29) Why was the appearance of the Heavens כמעשה לבנת הספיר? Explain. (רש"י שמות כד:י)
30) For how long was משה רבינו on הר סיני? (שמות כד:יח)
Virtual Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning online!
1) What are we not concerned about when one uses trees as walls for a Sukkah? (Think about Sukkah 2:3)
2) What is a Cholah SheYesh Bo Sakana?
3) What is one helping someone do a Mitzvah not obligated in Sukkah?
Click Here http://rpmishnah.blogspot.com/
Torah Math
In this week’s Parasha we are taught to run away from lies and dishonesty.
The word Sheker is made up of letters only from the end of the Alef Bet and all have pointy bottomed letters. None of these letters can stand. The word Emet is made up of the first letter the middle letter and the last letter in the Alef Bet. Also, each letter has a straight bottom and can stand on its own.
שקר - אמת
TORAH TRIVIA!
Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.
Last week’s question: When can a boy under the age of 13 be called up for an Alyah in Shul (not including Simchat Torah)?
Answer to last week’s question: We could call a boy under 13 up to the Torah for an Alyah for Maftir.
Question of the week: Why do we cover the Challah on our Shabbat table? (2 reasons)
Kollel Quiz
#1 Who Am I?
1. I come after 6 days.
2. I come after 6 years.
3. I am for the ox and donkey.
4. I am the field.
#2 Who Am I?
1. I must be covered.
2. Fill me up.
3. I am not a bore yet I am one.
4. I am for humans or vessels.
FOOD Section!
Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?
MEATLESS CHEESEBURGER
Ingredients:
1 (2-ounce) hamburger bun, shredded
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 (15.25-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon grated lime rind
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 cup of magic ;)
Preparation:
1. Place bun in a food processor; process 4 times or until crumbs measure about 1 cup. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Combine 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, and beans in processor; pulse 8 times or until beans make a thick paste. Scrape bean mixture into a bowl with breadcrumbs. Stir in rind and remaining ingredients. With moistened hands, divide bean mixture into 4 equal portions (about 1/3 cup mixture per portion), shaping each into a 3-inch patty.
3. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties to pan; reduce heat to medium, and cook 4 minutes or until bottom edges are browned. Carefully turn patties over; cook 3 minutes or until bottom edges are done.
Putting together the sandwich:
Lightly toast a hamburger bun
Spread a small amount of mayo on each side of the bun (to taste)
Place some shredded lettuce on the bottom half of the bun
Place the burger on top of the lettuce
Put a slice of cheese directly on the burger
Add 1 thin slice of a large tomato on top of the cheese
Place a few thin slices of red onion
Gently put 2-3 slices of sandwich pickles on top of the tomato
Add ketchup and/or mustard to taste
Close the bun
Serve with a side of fries, coleslaw, and a refreshing drink!
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