Mishpatim

בס"ד
Highlights in Rashi
selected interesting Rashi’s from the weekly Torah portion, translated into English

M i s h p a t i m


“And these are the laws (mishpatim)…” 21:1
-- …why was the portion of these laws placed near the portion of the Mizbeiach? to tell us that we shall place the Sanhedrin (which gives out the laws) by the (Beit) HaMikdosh i.e. next to the Mizbeiach.

“That you shall set before them”
--The Holy One, blessed is He, said to Moshe: Do not think of saying, “I will teach them the chapter or the law two or three times until they know it well, as it was taught, and I will not trouble myself to enable them to understand the reasons for the matter and its explanation.” Therefore, it is said: “you shall set before them,” that it should be like a table, set with food and prepared to eat from, [placed] before someone. — [From Mechilta, Eruvin 54b]

“…before them”
-- And not before idol worshipers, even if one knows that they will rule (the same) as the Jewish judgment, one shouldn’t bring the law to their court houses, since one who brings the matter before their houses of law, profanes the name of G-d, and honors the name of their deity.

“When you will purchase a Jewish slave…” 21:2
-- From Beit Din, who sold him for stealing, as the verse says, “if he does not have (money to pay) then he shall be sold (as a slave)”.

“If he comes in alone…”
-- Meaning that he was not married.

“…He shall go out alone”
-- This teaches us, that if the slave was not married, his master may not give him a Canaanite maidservant from whom to beget children
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