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Torah Portion -
Mishpatim
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Written by Jonny Caller
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The sedra, that comprises of 52 mitzvot including specific detailed halachot of slaves and sacrifices, begins "v'eileh hamishpatim", "and these are the ordinances". Rashi comments (from the mechilta) that normally "eileh" means its a new topic, but since it says "V'eileh", "AND these", the following topic is connected to the previous topic: just like the preceding laws were given at Har Sinai, so too these laws were given at Har Sinai. Rav Elon once explained that one lesson the Torah is emphasising here is that Torah isn't just about those monumental experiences. The detailed halachot that follow are as signifcant as the 10 Commandments and the accompanying Har-Sinai experience
, where we actually heard Hashem speak. Therefore, it is only at the end of parshat mishpatim, having connected the awe-inspiring Har-Sinai experience to the regular detailed halachot that Torah records the responde of the Bnei Yisrael, "na'aseh v'nishma", "we will do and we will listen".
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