We move powerfully from the heights of Har Sinai into the minutiae of Mishpatim. Rashi reveals the powerful connection between the grand revelation in Yitro and the 53 ‘mundane’ mitzvot in Mishpatim. He shows that the “Vav(And)” at the start of the Parsha, “And these are the statutes” is there to teach us that “...just as is the case with the former [ten] commandments - they were given at Sinai, so too these [multiple mundane mitzvot] were given at Sinai!
One of the distinctive strengths of Torah living is the almost obsessive focus on details. We have grand visions for how the world ought to be and what our role is in bringing that light to the nations of the world. But, that doesn’t happen without a remarkable commitment to very specific building blocks - as we change the world step by step. Religious life has an exceptional focus on the finest of details of our daily lives - from which shoelace to tie first to how to check an etrog for a blemish and ensure that there are no tiny bugs invading our crispy lettuce leaves. This, at the same time as being sensitive to the exact moment the ball of the sun rises, to rise with it at the ideal moment of morning prayer to Hashem.
Colloquially, we say that, “The Devil is in the details!”. This saying is actually based on the expression by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe that, “G-d is in the details”. The original term fell out of use due to concern for taking G-d’s name in vain - one of the Ten Commandments from last week’s Parsha. So, remarkably, we say this strange expression about the devil to respect G-d’s name - through a precise application of not using His name in an everyday idiom! G-d is indeed in the details! (Albeit this specific application is not even a Jewish one.)
The Jewish People have many revolutionary and powerful values - but there is one incredible ethic that has stood out more than any other over the last 4 difficult months - Achdut - Unity. The level of care, camaraderie and detailed collaboration between civilians, the army and across all walks of life is astounding and needs no elaboration - every Jew in Israel and across the world has felt it. I don’t believe there is any other nation that could have shown such strength and practical unity in the face of such evil and destruction.
But how we do hold on to it? How does such Sinai-tically powerful Unity, find its manifestation in Mishpatim-like precise application?
By way of example, we can appreciate the value of Shabbat in our lives - but it is the very precise application of the 39 Melachot and their derivative halachot that truly bring the heavenly value of Shabbat down to earth. But can we say that the same level of details exist for achieving the all-important value of unity?!
I feel that there is a deep need for us to devise, ‘Hilchot Unity’. What are the daily actions that one needs to take to sustain unity in our nation? What are the socially sensitive habits that we should entrench in our lives to ensure that we keep the distance from people different to us - close and familiar? How do we take charge of our individual ‘unity-thermometers’ - taking responsibility for the levels of unity-driving actions that we take? Does it include making a point of greeting strangers in the street consistently, until it becomes a cultural norm? It’s harder to hate someone when you smile at them in the street! What are the rules of engagement when entering into a discussion with someone who is different from you? How do you treat the other person as a brother/sister while debating your opinion, while being careful not to hold on to your opinion so extremely that you question whether that person is your brother/sister? What are the fences that we can set up to prevent this calamity from recurring?
Maybe we should develop an App that matches us with people across the Jewish spectrum of culture and religiosity - and gamify the amount of ‘random conversations’ that we have in a given week. How can we celebrate the people in our society who don’t hold the most extreme views but rather make an extreme effort to meet as many people that are different to them in a week, a month and a year?
The halachot that support major values in our Shulkhan Aruch are many and meticulous - sometimes we understand the rationale behind the fences and the minhagim and sometimes we don’t. Whatever the case, we make it a religious and cultural norm to perform those actions - in order to live within certain circles and define ourselves as G-d-fearing Jews. I believe our leading scholars and religious leaders in particular need to garner their resources into formulating Hilchot and Minhagei Achdut.
When we, P”G soon, stop facing an immediate existential threat and our brave reservists are back home and resuming their day-to-day lives - the dynamics that preceded Oct 7th will come into play again. Just as with Corona - we can have the greatest of intentions to hold on to the benefits of that time - but “culture eats strategy for breakfast” (P Drucker) - so we best get to work urgently at causing a paradigm shift in our culture. So that we can stand every day proudly as we did at Sinai, “K’ish Echad b’Lev Echad!’
The first Mishna in Shekalim teaches that on the first day of Adar, the emissaries of the Beit Din would begin announcing the laws of bringing the annual Half-Shekel. This is one reason why, “When Adar enters, we increase in happiness.” This is an example of a, ‘Halacha of Unity’ that brings joy - when the emissaries remind us that we can only be counted when we see ourselves as a half - waiting to be completed by the other. Who is coming to have a chavruta with me in, ‘Hilchot Achdut’? Chodesh Tov!
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Dvar Torah dedicated to the safe and swift return of Daniel Shimon ben Sharon Perez, as well as all the hostages, for a refuah shleima for all the wounded and for the continued protection of our holy chayalim.
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Image: Kagenmi/Getty Images
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