As its name implies, Mishpatim (ordinances) is a virtual treasure trove of various laws (halachot).  The sedra starts off with the laws concerning a Jewish bondsman and the limitation of his years of service.  At the same time we see laws that do accept the notion of human slavery: that a person is "owned" as opposed to a person's labor.
 
Our themes change quite quickly, speaking to a great extent about issues concerning damages: whether one person to another or by person's property to another person or their property.  There is a law prohibiting charging a poor person interest (Ex.22. 24); laws concerning judges and judicial procedure.  There is even mention of the three pilgrimage festivals: Pesach, Shavuot and Succoth.

Of great significance, given the ongoing debate about the status of a fetus, are the verses in Exodus 21: 22-23. It speaks of a situation where two men are fighting and collide with a woman who is pregnant.  The Torah explicitly states:

If men shall fight and they collide with a pregnant woman and she miscarries, but there will be no fatality, he shall surely be punished as the husband of the woman shall cause to be assessed against him and he shall pay it by order of judges.  But if there shall be a fatality, then you shall award a life for a life...
 
While it is clear that these verses demand careful analysis, one thing is certain: the Torah clearly makes a distinction between the life of the unborn child and the life of the pregnant woman.  In the first case, monetary compensation is required; the second - the death of the woman - is a capital offense. 

Of course, with regard to this second case a distinction has to be drawn between a pre-meditated act and a situation which was accidental.  This is dealt with in another section of the Torah (See Numbers Ch.35). The phrase "life for life" in our chapter, informs us that this comes under laws concerning capital offenses.
 
Quite honestly, I find it profoundly moving that our Torah can resolve issues which are so strongly debated in our own time!
 
Mishpatim ends (23:20 - 33) with God instructing Moses about the coming campaign and occupation of the land of Canaan. It includes a severe warning against idolatry. Chapter 24 continues a description of the events surrounding the Israelites' experience at Mt. Sinai.  There is a mystical description (24:9 - 11) of the leaders of Israel seeing "the God of Israel, and under His feet was the likeness of sapphire brickwork" (24:10)  Our tradition understands the reference to "brickwork" as an allusion to the "bricks" that the Israelites made while they were slaves in Egypt.  The implication follows that God shared in their suffering!  By extension, then, we have the thought that suffering leaves an "impression" on God!  
 
Amazing!  If you think about this concept, there are some profound implications that go along with it.  For example, what is this telling us about those times when we may cause someone to suffer?  Conversely, what is this telling us about those times when we make the effort to alleviate suffering?

We offer our condolences to the family of Helen Herrmann.  Helen passed away Wednesday. She survived her husband, the late Willy Herrmann, for close to seven years.  As long as they were able, Willy and Helen attended services Shabbat morning.  It was always a pleasure to greet them.  They were certainly a charming couple.  Helen was a quiet, unassuming person.  She was able to escape Germany before the Nazis began their "final solution" to murder any Jew they found.  Her only sister, Friedl, died in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. We are saddened by her loss.
   
May this Shabbat bring refreshment to your spirit and renewed vigor to your body.
  
With fondest wishes,
   
Rabbi Mordecai Miller