Weekly Torah Portion’s Lesson on Social Laws and Trust
What’s New:
The Torah portion Mishpatim focuses on social laws governing human relationships, emphasizing the critical importance of trust in society and the ramifications when it’s missing.
Why it Matters:
Mishpatim delves into a series of civil laws, such as loans, theft, and property rights, central to maintaining societal structure and trust. One notable aspect of this portion concerns the treatment of theft and robbery and the implications these acts have on societal trust.
The Takeaway:
In Mishpatim, the Torah imposes a seemingly incongruous penalty on theft over robbery, puzzling many. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai provided an elucidative insight: a thief signifies a deeper societal threat by eroding trust and implying a fear of human but not divine observation. The destructive impact of such hidden crimes wreaks more havoc on the fabric of society than the overt actions of a robber.
The Broader Context:
The kinship between trust, business, personal relationships, and societal interactions underscores our collective reliance on a foundation of trust. Without it, our ability to function, cooperate, and progress would crumble. Parashat Mishpatim drives home the message that the stewardship of trust is not only a divine directive but a communal imperative.
The Source of Inquiry:
The scriptures compare the concealed action of striking someone in secret to overt hostility, hinting at a profound unraveling of trust in the complex webs of relationships—from family circles to national communities. It’s not the physical act alone that inflicts damage but the ripple effect of distrust that has the potential to corrode society from within.
Bottom Line:
Mishpatim, by exploring the relationship between trust and the rule of law, serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required to maintain a just and cohesive society. It reinforces the idea that preserving trust is not just an individual moral imperative but a fundamental societal one.
This story was first published on jpost.com.