 Parshat Mishpatim U'S'FUNEI T'MUNEI CHOL Beachcombing the G'matriya Beach with the help of "Otzrot Yisrael", one of the CDs of the "Responsa Project" of Bar Ilan University. Avraham Avinu was told by G-d: KUM HIT-HALEICH BA'ARETZ... (B'reishit 13:17) Arise and traverse the Land throughout its length and breadth, for I will give it to you. G-d's promise to Avraham is conditional upon the behavior in the Land of his descendants (that's us). One of the p'sukim that summarizes the proper functioningof society is the opening pasuk in this week's sedra - V'EILEH HAMISHPATIM... (Sh'mot 21:1) And these are the laws that you shall put before you. In other words, if we follow the latter pasuk, then the former pasuk will be actualized. Both p'sukim have the same G'matriya, 1992. What a great nation is the one that has laws and just statutes as all this Torah that I Am placing before you today. (D'varim 4:8) This is a general statement of the greatness of the Jewish People because of the Torah. This pasuk came up as a GM (G'matriya match) for Sh'mot 22:24 - If (when) you shall lend money to a poorperson among My people, you shall not take interest from him. The mitzva to lend, and the prohibition of taking interest are specific examples of the greatness of the Jewish People. There are other mitzvot which typify Israel's greatness, but these mitzvot are "high on the list". A word of caution about G'matriya, specifically the homemade variety that appear in this Treasures in the Sand column. Don't read too much into them. They are not meant to say something new. They are meant to be a nice "numerical confirmation" of existing ideas. They point to ideas to be explored. Try any of them withoutthe G'matriya. They still "work". [The Mishpatim Homepage] |