Parashat Mishpatim

Revision as of 23:22, 23 January 2014

Parshas Mishpatim is the sixth parsha in the Book of Shemos and the 6th week and final week of Shovavim in non leap years. It contains 118 pesukim. For the Haftora; the prophecy of Yirmiyah to the wealthy following the betrayal of their covenant to release their Jewish slaves, is read.

Laws of Jewish Slaves

A Jewish slave goes free after six years of work or the Yovel, which ever comes first. His master is responsible to support him and his original family. He is allowed to give the Jewish slave a non Jewish maidservant to marry, children that are born belong to the owner and are considered non Jewish slaves. A Jewish servant that refuses to leave after six years has his ear pierced upon a door and can remain until the following Yovel.

Laws of Jewish Maidservants

A father is allowed to sell his daughter as a Jewish maidservant. She goes free after six years, upon growing signs of adulthood or the Yovel, which ever of the three happens first. It is recommended that the owner or his sons marry this maidservant. If they refuse they should help her be redeemed or in the very least are forbidden to sell her to someone else. If one of them does marry her, they can not hold back their obligations to her if they later marry a second wife. Once married the girl does not go free after growing signs of adulthood.

Laws of an Intentional Murderer

An intentional murderer receives the capital punishment of beheading. Even a Kohen who serves in the Temple receives the death penalty if found guilty.

Laws of an Accidental Murderer

An accidental murderer has to exile and flee to the 'cities of sanctuary'. If the accidental killing took place as part of a performance of a mitzvah, the killer is not held responsible.

Laws of Wounding Parents

A person that wounds his father or mother causing blood to flow is sentenced to death through strangulation.

Laws of a Kidnapper

One who kidnaps a person and sells him is sentenced to death through strangulation.

Laws of Cursing Parents

One who curses his father or mother is sentenced to death through stoning.

Laws of Wounding Acquaintance

One who wounds his acquaintance is held liable to pay for his leave time and medical bills.

Laws of Killing a Slave

One who kills his gentile slave or maidservant is sentenced to death through beheading. If the slave survived 24 hours before dying, his owner is no longer held liable for his death.

Laws of Mistargeted Killing

A person that tries to kill one person and ends up killing another, it is debatable if he is punished by death or if he simply pays a fine. If a person accidentally hits a pregnant woman as he aims to kill someone else, causing her to miscarry, he must pay for the value of the fetus.

More Laws Regarding Wounding Acquaintance

Depreciation damage is evaluated by the lessening of his value on the slave market. If the wounded party becomes ill, the aggressor must compensate him for the evaluated pain, medical bills, humiliation and lost work time.

Laws of Wounding a Slave

A master that terminates the eye, tooth or any of the 24 limbs of his gentile slave, must free his slave.

Laws of Bull Goring Humans

A bull that kills a Jew, even a minor, is stoned to death but hid owner is not held responsible. If a killer bull escapes death after three killings and then kills a fourth time, his owner is also held responsible and aside form the stoning of the bull, the owner must pay a fine and is punishable by death through Heaven. If the bull kills a slave, its owner must pay the slave owner a fine of thirty shekel regardless of the slave's value.

Laws of Damage Caused by a Pit

A person is liable for the death of an animal that was caused through its falling into his pit. He must reimburse the owner of the animal for its full value and he gets to keep the carcass of the dead animal.

Laws of Bull Goring Bull

A juvenile bull that gores another bull killing him pays for half his value. An experienced bull that kills another must pay the full damage.

Laws of a Four or Five Times Repayment

A person that steals a cow and slaughters or sells it must pay five times its value if he is caught and found guilty. If the same is done to a sheep he must only pay four times the value.

Permission to Kill in Defense

It is permissible to kill a thief if it likely that he himself intended to murder.

Double Payments for Thievery

A person that steals and is caught red handed with the object in his possession must return double the value of the stolen object.

Laws of a Consuming Animal

An animal that enters someones property and damaged with its mouth, its owner must pay full damages.

Laws of Damage Through Fire

A person that is negligent with fire must pay for any damage it causes.

Laws of an Unpaid Custodian

A person that guards his friends assets for free is only responsible for negligence.

Laws of a Paid Custodian

A paid custodian is responsible for negligence and if the object he is guarding is stolen or lost.

Laws of a Borrower

A borrower is responsible for everything even if the object he borrowed is destroyed by circumstances beyond his control.

Laws of a Renter

A renter is not responsible if the object is destroyed in circumstances beyond his control and is responsible for negligence. There is a debate whether he is responsible for lost and stolen objects.

Laws of Seducer

A seducer must marry the girl he seduced. If the girls father rejects the match, the seducer must give him a fine of fifty shekel.

Laws of Witchcraft

A man or woman that practice occult are punishable by death.

Laws of Animalisum

A man or woman that has relationships with an animal is punishable to death through stoning.

Laws of Idolatry

A person that worships strange deities is punishable to death through stoning.

Transgression of Oppression

It is forbidden to oppress or cheat a convert. It is forbidden to oppress especially widows and orphans. Hashem listens to the cries of the oppressed and as a punishment for oppressing converts, widows and orphans a person can die without his family's knowledge.

Laws of Lending

It is a positive commandment to lend money to the needy. It is forbidden to charge interest. Collaterals must be returned at time of repayment. Hashem listens to the cries of the exploited.

Transgression of Cursing Leaders

It is forbidden to curse a ruler or judge.

Transgression of Confusing Order of Priestly Gifts

It is forbidden to confuse the order of priestly gifts.

Redemption of the Firstborn

Firstborns are holy and must be redeemed thirty days after birth.

Transgression of Sacrificing Infant Animal

It is forbidden to bring an animal as a sacrifice until he is seven days after birth.

Transgression of Eating Non Kosher Meat

If is forbidden to eat meat that has not been ritually slaughtered. It is a mitzvah to feed such meat to the dogs.

Laws of Litigation

It is forbidden to accept Lashon Hara. It is forbidden for a Judge to hear the arguments a single plaintiff without hearing a representative of the other side. It is forbidden to assist false witnesses. Death penalties can only be given when voted by a majority of at lest two more judges then the opposing party. For acquittal from the death penalty only an additional majority of one judge is needed. A judge is forbidden to remain silent and not issue his ruling. It is forbidden to favor a pauper during a trail even in order to issue him respect.

Laws of Returning Lost Objects

It is a positive commandment to return lost objects to its rightful owners. This is done only after the owner is tested, first identifying the object via its characteristics.

Laws of Helping

One should help all fellow Jews, even his enemies.

Additional Laws of Litigation

It is forbidden to warp the judgment of even a wicked person. It is forbidden to lie. A person that is found guilty of capital punishment should have his case evaluated a second time before the punishment is carried out. It is forbidden for judges to accept bribery. It is forbidden to oppress converts.

Laws of Shmita

Fields and vineyards must be made unrestricted to the public during the year of Shmita.

Rest of Shabbos

A person is commanded to rest on Shabbos and is responsible for the idleness of his servants and animals as well.

Keeping Mitzvot

A person is warned to keep all of Hashem's commandments and be cautious in regards to them.

Transgression of Mentioning Deities

It is forbidden to mention the name of deities or cause a gentile to make an oath in their name.