MISHPATIM: Guardians of the World
When a person receives a deposit, they are obligated to guard it. What degree of responsibility do we bear towards the world and the life we receive every morning?
February 14, 2025
When a person receives a deposit, they are obligated to guard it. What degree of responsibility do we bear towards the world and the life we receive every morning?
How could manna from heaven serve as forensic evidence in Moses’s court, and how could lions participate in Solomon’s judicial proceedings?
The Torah is not in the Heavens!
Humans like to strive for perfection. However, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Chabad Rebbe, wrote an entire book about reaching the level of a ‘beinoni,’ commonly translated as ‘mediocre.’
What exactly did he mean?
People are often quick to shrug off communal responsibility. Even Moses himself, when instructed to redeem the People of Israel, made every effort to avoid the mission.
What does Jewish tradition say about this attitude? Is communal work really for everyone?