Parshat Mishpatim – Trumah – 2010
Parshat Mishpatim – Trumah February 12, 2010
Exodus 24:7 – “And Moshe took the book of the covenant and read in the hearing of the people and they said, “All that the Lord has said, we will do and we will listen.”. (naaseh venishma)
There are many new and different torah insights that come up through the intellect of great wisdom and understanding. Some come from the heart of emotion. Some need to remain right where they started and not be revealed to others. Some should be revealed to the people close to us, people we know well- but not be revealed in writing for the whole public to know. There are torahs that everyone should see and know that apply to a large audience. Even in a chat room. There are torahs that need time to mature before exposing them, like a baby in a uterus, not ready to be born. If these secrets were revealed too early, it would be like a miscarriage, lost to all. Some torahs need to be waited out patiently and mature with time, when the ideas “can be born” at the right time bringing a great blessing with them.
All of these torahs are divided into three divisions: 1) Thought 2) Speech 3) Action. There are torahs that should remain just in thought. Some can be spoken. The ones that need action taken are the ones written down. Our holy torah is divided into 2 parts: the written and oral laws. The written laws of the torah deal with the direct implementation of the torah, suiting action into words like the 7 Noachide Laws that apply to all of humanity. This is in the realm of “We will do”. The oral laws, applying to “And we will listen” touch upon the oral laws passed down from mouth to ear through the generations, dealing with the finite nuances of each particular mitzvah – special to and for the Jewish people, differentiating them from the rest of the world. Eventually these oral torahs were written down into what we know as the mishnah and the Talmud today.
Some examples of the mitzvoth we do with our ears and mouth: Hearing the shofar Hearing the megillah on Purim Hear the words of ones own prayers and blessings Not hearing slander Not hearing blasphemy
Speaking respectfully Reciting blessings Speaking words of truth Not swearing Not instigating Not speaking G-d’s name in vain
As we approach the final redemption more and more torahs are being revealed as the prophesies unfold and Israel as a nation stands firmly on its soil again. The hidden torahs that were kept secret are also revealed to a more hungry audience that thirsts for the word of Hashem. The 2 stone tablets of the ten commandments “Naaseh Venishma – representing we will do and we will listen that made waves in the world at Sinai, have indeed increased in their ripple effect as modern technology gives us the knowledge most accessably and quickly- we are almost there! Hold on!!!!!!!!!
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
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