Mashpatim

“We will Do and We will Obey”
(updated and revised from Mishpatim 5766-2006)

Although most of parashat Mishpatim deals with the administration of civil justice, the end of the parasha returns to the theme of the Divine Revelation, where the people pronounce “Na’ah’seh v’nish’mah,” “we will do and we will obey.” More than obey, “nishmah” means “we will understand.” It is this struggle for understanding, that is perhaps most relevant to Jewish observance in the 21st century.