Did You Get the Message? by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Parshas Mishpatim follows the Revelation at Sinai. One would expect the Torah to follow the great revelation with a mitzvah that is relevant to all times and places, a mitzvah we can focus on and get “hyped” about. Instead the Torah begins the Torah Portion with more »
“Go Ask G-d” by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Following the Ten Commandments in last week’s portion, the Torah proceeds to introduce the mitzvos. “These are the laws that you shall place before them.” In many cases, the laws are clear. We simply study the laws and do our best to observe them. But, in the course more »
Do You Communicate? by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The great revelation at Sinai was a most significant moment in the experience of communication. The event is described as an experience like “eating and drinking,” a real, live, enjoyable experience. Moshe, the leader of the people, achieved an even greater level of communication with G-d. “Mouth to more »
Divide and Conquer by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Torah Judaism places much emphasis on financial law. Of the ten volumes in a contemporary set of Shulchan Aruch, (dealing with prayer, holidays, mezuzah, kashrus, matrimony, finances, and so much more) a complete three of the ten volumes are devoted to financial law. Yet, as important as law more »
The Parsha of Mishpatim/ laws begins with the law of the Jewish slave. The Jewish slave is quite unique in that he isn’t much of a slave at all. He must indeed serve his master with loyalty, but he in turn is treated in royal fashion. Our sages teach for example, “If there is only more »