Parsha Q&A - Mishpatim « Ohr Somayach

Parshas Mishpatim

For the week ending 1 Adar I 5757; 7 & 8 February 1997

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

Did Rashi write "Shulchan Aruch"? (hint: a trick question)
What mitzva in this parsha involves a mezuza? (hint: another trick question)
What special mitzva does the Torah give to the master of a Hebrew maidservant?
What is the penalty for striking one's father or mother and causing a wound?
'A' intentionally hits 'B'. As a result, B is in critical condition, dangerously close to death. Besides any possible monetary payments, what happens to A?
What is the penalty for someone who wants to murder a particular person, but accidentally kills another person instead?
A slave goes free if his master knocks out one of the slave's teeth. What type of teeth do not qualify for this rule? Why?
An ox gores another ox. What is the maximum the owner of the damaging ox must pay, even if his animal had gored twice previously?
From where in this week's parsha can the importance of work be demonstrated?
What is meant by the words "If the sun shone on him."?
A person is given an object for safe-keeping. Later, he swears it was stolen. Witnesses come and say that, in fact, he is the one who stole it. How much must he pay?
While a person is borrowing his employee's car, the car is struck by lightning. How much must he pay his employee for the damage to the car?
Why is lending money at interest called 'biting'?
Non-kosher meat is preferentially fed to dogs. Why?
Which verse forbids listening to slander?
What constitutes a majority-ruling in a capital case?
How is the festival of Shavuos referred to in this week's parsha?
How many prohibitions are transgressed when cooking meat and milk together?
What was written in the Sefer HaBris which Moshe wrote prior to the giving of the Torah?
Who was 'Efras'? Who was her husband? Who was her son?

Answer Contents	Reuven and Shimon are standing in front of a Jewish court. Reuven says to Shimon: "You owe me 100 dollars." Shimon answers: "No, it was only 50 dollars." In this case, the Torah obligates Shimon to swear that he is telling the truth. But why must he swear? Isn't it obvious that Shimon is telling the truth? If he were a liar, he would have denied the entire claim! Then he would have paid zero, and been free of any Torah oath!

Answer
Contents

Reuven and Shimon are standing in front of a Jewish court. Reuven says to Shimon:

"You owe me 100 dollars."

Shimon answers:

"No, it was only 50 dollars."

In this case, the Torah obligates Shimon to swear that he is telling the truth. But why must he swear? Isn't it obvious that Shimon is telling the truth? If he were a liar, he would have denied the entire claim! Then he would have paid zero, and been free of any Torah oath!

I Did Not Know That!

"The beginning of your land's fruits you shall bring to the house of Hashem your G-d; don't cook a kid in its mother's milk." (23:19)

What's the connection between the first half of this verse and the second? A renowned Rabbi once explained as follows: Bring your 'fruits,' - your children - to the house of Hashem when they are young. That is to say, bring them to the Beis Medrash and teach them the Torah. And if you think, "My kid is too young to learn Torah. He needs more maternal pampering." To this the Torah says "Don't cook a kid in his mother's milk."

Heard from Rabbi Betzalel Rudinsky

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

21:1 - Yes! Rashi writes that Moshe was commanded to present the Torah clearly to the Jewish People, like a 'shulchan' (table) which is 'aruch' (set) and ready for the meal.
21:6 - If a Hebrew slave desires to remain enslaved, it is a mitzva to pierce his ear next to a door post - mezuza.
21:8,9 - The Torah mandates a special mitzva to marry her.
21:15 - Death by strangulation.
21:19 - He is put in jail until 'B' recovers or dies.
21:23 - One opinion: The murderer deserves the death penalty. Another opinion: The murderer is exempt from capital punishment, but must compensate the heirs of his victim.
21:26 - Baby teeth, because they grow back.
21:35 - The full value of his own animal.
21:37 - From the 'five-times' penalty for stealing an ox and then selling it or slaughtering it. This heavy fine can be seen as a punishment for preventing the owner from using his ox to plow his field.
22:2 - If it's as clear as the sun that the thief has no intent to kill.
22:8 - Double value of the object denied.
22:14 - Nothing.
22:24 - Interest on a loan is like a poisonous snake bite. Just as the poison is not noticeable at first, but soon overwhelms the person, so too interest is barely noticeable until suddenly it accumulates to an overwhelming sum.
22:30 - As 'reward' for their silence during the plague of the first born (Shmos 11:7).
23:1 - Targum Onkelos translates "Don't bear a false report" as "Don't receive a false report."
23:2 - A simple majority is needed for an acquittal. A majority of two is needed for a ruling of guilty.
23:16 - Chag HaKatzir - Festival of Reaping.
23:19 - One. There are three prohibitions involving the combining of milk and meat. One is violated by cooking.
24:4,7 - The Torah starting from Bereshis until the giving of the Torah, and the commandments given at Mara.
24:14 - Miriam, wife of Calev, mother of Chur.

Question Contents	Most people aren't brazen enough to lie straight into their creditor's face. Therefore, even a liar will find it difficult to deny the entire claim. But by admitting to part of the claim, the liar can salve his conscience, thinking, "I don't have enough money to pay right now. I'll admit to part of the claim now, and later when I'm able, I'll pay the rest." To prevent this evasive tactic, the Torah obligates him to swear. Bava Metzia 3

Question
Contents

Most people aren't brazen enough to lie straight into their creditor's face. Therefore, even a liar will find it difficult to deny the entire claim. But by admitting to part of the claim, the liar can salve his conscience, thinking, "I don't have enough money to pay right now. I'll admit to part of the claim now, and later when I'm able, I'll pay the rest." To prevent this evasive tactic, the Torah obligates him to swear.

Bava Metzia 3

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML Design: Michael Treblow

© 1997 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.

This publication is available via E-Mail

Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

Ohr Somayach's Web site is hosted by TeamGenesis

Ohr Somayach	Sections	Follow
About Ohr Somayach International Branches Contact Us Donate	Home Explore Judaism Study In Israel Audio

Ohr Somayach

https://ohr.edu

Parsha Q&A - Mishpatim

Parshas Mishpatim

Parsha Questions

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions