Parashat Mishpatim

Questions and answers about the weekly Torah portion.

People cannot be proprietors over nature--they are not even absolute masters of their own creations.

The ordinances in this portion emphasize issues relevant to society and the interactions among groups.

Whether or not we know the suffering of the slaves, we are commanded to act as if we do.

Bringing us all out of Egypt.

Beware of selective Bible-passage quoting.

How do we reconcile our desire to see God with God's statement that no one can see God and live?

Moses informs the people of numerous ethical and ritual laws and seals the covenant between the Children of Israel and God.

In claiming power over human lives, a murderer denies that God alone possesses that power.

While it's easy to complain about poor leadership, Parashat Mishpatim challenges us to critique from a committed, engaged perspective.