Mishpatim

As one who lives in Israel, daily living sometimes gets in the way of appreciating the miraculous nature of life in this country. Just like any other place, we wake up in the morning, send the kids to school, go to work and in general engage in the same mundane activities as do millions all around the world. Parashat Mishpatim affords an opportunity to appreciate the uniqueness of Eretz Israel.

The key to life in the Land of Israel is following the directions that come with the package. Shemot 23:22 read: "But if you shall indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries." If we follow His commandments, the land will be ours and God will tend to all of our needs (food, water, protection from illness, secure borders, etc.- see the subsequent verses).

A similar theme can be found in Shemot 34:24: "Neither shall any man desire your land, when you shall go up to appear before the Lord your God three times a year." It seems irresponsible to abandon one's home and belongings to perform the commandment of pilgrimage to the Beit HaMikdash. God assures us that He will defend our property during our absence.

In summary, nothing in Eretz Israel is as it seems, at least not if we adhere to God's commandments. As it states in Devarim 11:12: "A land which the Lord thy God cares for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." God's eyes are always upon the Land of Israel, miraculously providing for those who seek Him.

Rav Joshua Schreier has been a ram at Midreshet Lindenbaum since 1989. He has a B.A. and M.S. from Yeshiva University and semicha from RIETS. He and his family reside in Efrat.