February 12, 201523 Shevat 5775
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PARSHAT MISHPATIM
SHABBAT SHEKALIM
Rabbi Lewis Warshauer
Words can be similar but carry different connotations. "Legal" has a good connotation. "Legalistic" does not. Judaism is often accused of being too legalistic. This charge has been leveled not just at the Judaism of the Talmud and subsequent law codes, but also against many of the laws enumerated in the Torah itself. Too often, there is a tendency to take the Ten Commandments (found in last week's parasha) as the only commandments. 

The truth is that they are just the beginning; the crucial details begin with the plain introductory statement at the beginning of this week's parasha: 

"These are the mishpatim that you [Moses] shall set before them [the Israelites.]" (Exodus 21:1) 

The Hebrew word mishpat (plural: mishpatim) does not have just one translation. Menahem Elon, a former justice of the Israeli Supreme Court, explains that the word means several things: court judgments; a system of laws and precepts; legal rights; and fixed customs or usages. (Jewish Law, pp. 105-7) 

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a 1st Century C.E. sage, appears to understand the word mishpatim as meaning court judgments. He asks why the parasha would begins by laying out the necessity for court judgments before listing individual mitzvot (Mekhilta, Mishpatim, Nezikin 1). He answers by saying that when people are contending with each other in court, strife prevails; when a judgment is rendered, peace is achieved . To prove the point, Rabi Shimon quotes Moses's father-in-law Jethro who, after advising Moses to set up a court system that would facilitate the rendering of judgments, explains the benefit: "And all the people shall go to their place in peace." (Exodus 18:23) 

Giving a somewhat different view, Professor Zev Falk, ("Hebrew Law in Biblical Times", p.25) describes what all definitions of mishpat have in common: an action taken in favor of a weak petitioner against a strong adversary.


Torah with star

May Their Memories Be For a Blessing 
FEBRUARY YAHRTZEITS

2/13/2015 (24 Shevat)

Betty Crone

2/15/2015 (26 Shevat)

Joseph Langnas

2/16/2015 (27 Shevat)

Isaac Faxstein

2/20/2015 (1 Adar)

Oscar Kuhn

Arnold Lada

2/21/2015 (2 Adar) 

Rabbi Julius Shuback

2/24/2015 (5 Adar)

Sylvia Cohen

Henrietta Hamburger

2/25/2015 (6 Adar)

Rose Lovinger Columbus

Jack Gruber

2/27/2015 (8 Adar)

Wesley Brown

Marvin Rosen

2/28/2015 (9 Adar)

Max Silverstein

Sharon Florence Weiss


To make a donation to commemorate a yahrtzeit, please click here.  If you are a member of the synagogue and a yahrtzeit for your loved one is not on the list, please contact the synagogue office so we can update our records.

   Please click here if you wish to permanently memorialize a loved one by purchasing a yahrtzeit plaque.  

SHABBAT SHALOM!
SHABBAT Mishpatim
Shabbat Shekalim
Friday, February 13th
  6 p.m. Services, Chapel
Saturday, February 14th
  9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
10 a.m.  Supervised Youth Room
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the following group of families: Libby and Andy Beider, Robyn and Robert Canvasser, Tammy and Steve Dines, Lisa and Frank Ellias, Geri Feigelson, Vicki Freedman and John Marcotte, Ilana Glazier and Lowell Schmeltz and Marcia and Chuck Seigerman.  Thank you for your participation in sustaining Kiddush Lunch for our congregation.
Kiddush Lunch each week is sustained by the generosity of sponsors If you would like to become part of a sponsoring lunch group, please e-mail Mindy Shuback.  Donations to the Kiddush Lunch Fund can also be made directly to the synagogue.

UPCOMING YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES
FAMILY CAMP 2015 RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 29-31st. 
torahTeen D'var Torah Cafe (8-12 graders) and Shabbat Children's Workshop (ages 7-12) with Ramah Fellow, Sam Mellits.
Future dates: 3/7, 4/11, 5/9  PLEASE WATCH THE WEEKLY SHABBAT BULLETIN FOR DETAILS.

To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.
ADULT EDUCATION
Shabbat morning study with Dr. Mitch Parker: 
"Reflections on the Siddur:  Hallel, Birkat Hamazon and Beyond." 
Future dates: 2/21, 3/7, 3/21, 4/11, 4/25, 5/9, 5/23.

SATURDAY NIGHT LEARNING
at the home of Marcia and Chuck Seigerman
7:45 p.m., FSNLEBRUARY 21ST:  "
After Haman's Death-The Megillah Chapters We Often Ignore," presented by Howard Friedman. Please rsvp to the Seigermans by February 19th if you plan to attend: cseigerman@aol.com

TKA/BI JOINT OPPORTUNITY
Israel/Jerusalem
This Year in Jerusalem!
December 6-20, 2015
15-day Tour of Israel Led by Rabbi Norm and Lynne Roman, coordinated through ARZA World Travel and Da'at Educational Experiences. All are welcome to participate!

Mazel Tov 
Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cake

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

 12 Constance Victor

 14 Jeffrey Eisman

 14 Rebecca Tron

 16 Benjamin Eisman

 16 Brian Newhouse

 16 Miriam Saperstein

 17 Michael Golob

 17 Leia Serlin

 19 Nancy Silverman

 20 Colton Graub

 22 Seymour Manello

 25 Sheila Kurland

 25 Sharon Rosen

 26 Aaron Orel

 

Jewish Wedding

FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES 

 9 Steven & Marlene Myers

 

To make a donation in honor of someone's birthday or anniversary, please click here.

If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.

Caring Community Information

Please submit any names you wish to place on the mishebeirach list to Michael Golob:  e-mail Michael Golob.

 

HFLHEBREW FREE LOAN:  Providing loans, providing dignity.  click here for more information on how Hebrew Free Loan can help you.

 

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B'nai Israel Synagogue  
5085 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, Michigan  48323
248-432-2729
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B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

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