Weekly Sidra: Mishpatim (Judgments)
Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 21:1-24:18
Haftorah: Yermiyahu / Jeremiah 34:8-22, 23:25-26

Mishpatim (מִּשְׁפָּטִים — Hebrew for “laws,” the second word of the parshah) is the eighteenth weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 21:1–24:18. The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which could be literally translated to say, “And these are the judgments which you will place before them” (Exodus 21:1). Jews in the Diaspora read it the eighteenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in February. Jewish people also read the first part of parshah Ki Tisa, Exodus 30:11–16, regarding the half-shekel head tax, as the maftir Torah reading on the special Sabbath Shabbat Shekalim, which often falls on the same Sabbath as parshah Mishpatim (as it does in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018).

Last week we read parsha Yitro, where the Torah tells us about the Jewish people standing at Mount Sinai receiving the Torah. The Jews heard the first two commandments directly from God, but they couldn’t take the Divine revelation directly, so they asked Moshe to get the rest of the Torah for them. Until this Parsha, the Torah only gives a few commandments – starting with the laws of Rosh Chodesh — the new moon — and Shabbat, etc. In parsha Mishpatim several additional commandments are given.

One of the most mitzvah (commandment) filled Torah portions, containing 23 positive commandments and 30 negative commandments. Included are laws regarding: the Hebrew manservant and maidservant, manslaughter, murder, injuring a parent, kidnapping, cursing a parent, personal injury, penalty for killing a slave, personal damages, injury to slaves, categories of damages and compensatory restitution, culpability for personal property damage, seduction, occult practices, idolatry, oppression of widows, children and orphans. The portion continues with the laws of: lending money, not cursing judges or leaders, tithes, first-born sons, justice, returning strayed animals, assisting the unloading of an animal fallen under its load, Sabbatical year, Shabbat, the Three Festivals (Pesach, Shavuot and Succot). Mishpatim concludes with the promise from the Almighty to lead us into the land of Israel, safeguard our journey, ensure the demise of our enemies and guarantee our safety in the land – if we uphold the Torah and do the mitzvot. Moses makes preparations for himself and for the people and then ascends Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.

There are three types of commandments: Mishpatim are civil laws, laws with a human understandable reason, that people even might make up themselves. Another type is Chukim, which are laws without a completely human understandable reason. An example of a choke is the concept of tuma (impurity) and tahara (purity). Such laws, as the laws of family purity (Taharas Hamishpocha), which are a God given gift to the Jewish people, are Chukim. A third type of commandment is Eidut (witness), where, by performing these commandments we testify that God did something. For instance, resting on Shabbat is testimony that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day.

The following Aliya summary will list the numerous laws detailed in Parshas Mishpatim. A total of 53 Mitzvot are commanded.

Note: On the Shabbat the Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. Here are this week`s aliyot:

1st Aliya: The Jewish slave, Jewish maidservant, manslaughter, murder, injuring a parent, kidnapping, cursing a parent.

2nd Aliya: Killing of slaves, personal damages, injury to slaves, the killer ox, a hole in the ground, damage by goring, penalties for stealing.

3rd Aliya: Damage by grazing, damage by fire, the unpaid custodian, the paid custodian, the borrowed article, seduction, occult practices, idolatry and oppression, lending money. Also here are laws not to afflict the stranger, the widow, and the orphan, and for a Jew not to charge interest on a loan to another Jew.

4th Aliya: Accepting authority, justice, strayed animals, the fallen animal. Blasphemy (against God, rulers, and judges), laws of sanctifying the first-born son (the pidyon haben ceremony), first of the harvest and of cattle. Also here are some laws of kashrut — the word "trefa" appears here.

5th Aliya: The fifth aliyah continues judicial matters, including not taking a bribe, because the Torah says that a bribe blinds those that have sight. Justice,

The mitzvah of the Shemittah year is explained: wherein for six years we should work and harvest the land but in the seventh year let the land rest. The Shabbat is explained as six days we shall do our work but on the seventh day we, our cattle, our servants, and the stranger within our gates shall rest. The three festivals of Pesach, Shavous, and Succot are given here.

6th Aliya: HaShem (God) instructed the nation to respect the authority of His messengers, the Prophets and Rabbis. He promised to chase out the seven nations who inhabited Canaan and forewarned us against making a treaty of peace with them, or being influenced by their practices and values. We are order not to bow down to the gods worshipped there nor serve them nor do after their doings, but instead overthrow them and serve God, and God will bless them and remove sickness from their midst.

7th Aliya: HaShem stated the means by which the seven nations would be chased out of Israel, and promised that if we do as instructed no woman would miscarry. The borders of Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel) were defined. God will send terror before the Jews come to the land to drive out their enemies little by little (little by little so the land won’t become overrun with wild animals by being cleared out quickly, and then gradually become filled with the Jewish nation).

The conclusion of the Parsha returns to the aftermath of Revelation. Moshe built an altar, offered a sacrifice, and in 24:7 the nation proclaimed "we will first obey HaShem’s commands and then attempt to understand". Moshe, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu, and the 70 elders have a shared vision in 24:10 and then Moshe is told to ascend Sinai where he would remain for 40 days and nights.