Saturday, February 02, 2008
Mishpatim Blogging
Standard sermon fare: what is the prelude to receiving the Law at Sinai? setting up a system of courts to administer/interpret it. What immediately follows? the brass tacks of Mishpatim.
Note some interesting things, though:
* of first concern is improving the lot of slaves -- we were slaves, so we should be just even to slaves (also even, according to this parsha, contra what the Christian Bible says about Jewish teach, to our enemies)
* Yitro may be the revelation of Torah (see previous post(s) for discussion) but it is with Mishpatim that guide us in how to live a just life that Judaism begins
* Interestingly, in this regard, the Haftarah portion contains the first mention of "Jew" in the Biblical chronology.
Note some interesting things, though:
* of first concern is improving the lot of slaves -- we were slaves, so we should be just even to slaves (also even, according to this parsha, contra what the Christian Bible says about Jewish teach, to our enemies)
* Yitro may be the revelation of Torah (see previous post(s) for discussion) but it is with Mishpatim that guide us in how to live a just life that Judaism begins
* Interestingly, in this regard, the Haftarah portion contains the first mention of "Jew" in the Biblical chronology.
# posted by alberich @ 9:22 PM 
