Moral Refinement • Parshat Mishpatim

Abstract

Immediately after God’s revelation of the Torah to the Israelites on Mount Sinai, the text transitions seamlessly to detail civil, criminal, and ritual laws. According to Rashi, the opening letter “vov,” meaning “and,” of Parshat Misphatim connects the current content to the previous narrative in Parshat Yitro. There is an integral and thematic link between the exalted Ten Commandments and the more mundane details delineated immediately after.

Description

Weekly Bible portion newsletter

Keywords

Mishpatim, Exodus, Moral refinement, social laws

Citation

Schiffman, M., & Brown, E. (2024, February). Torah of Character: Moral Refinement • Parshat Mishpatim. The Sacks-Herenstein Center, Yeshiva University. https://www.yu.edu/sacks-center .