WRJ Voices: Mishpatim

This Torah portion appears immediately following the giving of the Ten Commandments.

Beginning with “These are the rules you shall set before them,” God instructs Moses to impart specific rules governing various aspects of day-to-day life. Beginning with the treatment of slaves, punishment for killing or injuring another in a brawl, etc., very specific examples of crimes are referred to throughout the portion. (goring by an ox, kidnapping, murder through violence or treachery, theft)

It is interesting that the fate of women is taken into account in various ways. First, specific rules governing the sale and treatment of female slaves including daughters sold into slavery, specific punishments for causing a pregnant woman to miscarry, etc.. 

The protection of widows and orphans, how to treat creditors, injunctions against the taking of bribes, and against oppressing the stranger follow are also listed.

Broad outlines for behavior, as given in the Ten Commandments were apparently not enough. People needed specific rules to show what actions were necessary to lead lives dedicated to those commandments.

In today’s world, we hear a lot of rhetoric – shouting platitudes and large generalizations at each other.

Perhaps we need to look to our own daily actions – what are we doing in our own lives to live up to the ideals we espouse? How are we treating other individuals on a personal basis? What can we, as individuals, do to help repair our world?

As Women of Reform Judaism, we are privileged to have an organization that can help us with these questions. Depending on what level we wish to be active – local, national or international, WRJ can help us participate in meaningful ways. Reaching out to our members through webinars and conferences and offering access to numerous resources for programming and education, WRJ shows that each individual can make a difference and participate in tikkun olam.

WRJ’s Social Justice Conference in coming up on May 18-19, 2019. If you are planning to attend and have not yet registered, please register soon. For those (myself included) who are unable to attend, but very interested in what will be learned there, I look forward to hearing reports from attendees. I am sure that WRJ will have various resource materials useful to WRJ members.

Living a life that is true to our ideals is not always easy. Everyday responsibilities can crowd out our awareness of the more spiritual aspects of our lives. The smallest acts of kindness to others go a long way in creating a society closer to that which we would like to live in. We are lucky to have an organization like WRJ to help us in our efforts. We are “Stronger Together” and, together we can make great things happen.

Edith has been a member of the WRJ board since 2001, serving on many committees including the district consolidation committee and the WRJ Constitutional Revisions Committee.  She has served as WRJ Vice President of Marketing and Communication, Vice President of Programming and Advocacy, Budget Chair, and Audit Committee Chair. She is currently serving on WRJ’s Audit and Finance Committee and New Affiliates Committee and is co-chair of the Chai Society, and as a WRJ Consultant for bylaws. She is a past district president of WRJ Pacific District.