MISHPATIM

Shalom, Shalom. We commence this DEVAR TORAH by focusing upon the title of the PARASHAT. The title of the portion is MISHPATIM. The IVRI transliteration MISHPATIM is interpreted to mean ordinances. These ordinances are descriptive of civil law.

The Torah is said to be 20% literal and 80% interpretation. When the interpretation of Torah is taken from the ROOT LANGUAGE, the reference is not to this world, but rather to that of OLAM HABA i.e. the World to Come. At the ROOT LANGUAGE, Torah is comprised of DIFFERENT NAMES OF THE CREATOR. The DIFFERENT NAMES of the CREATOR represent the different qualities (MIDDOT) of His Infinite Nature. In the language of BRANCHES, i.e. the literal interpretation, the names of the CREATOR are presented in different combinations and arrangements giving us the stories as well as the MITZVOT (commandments), MISHPATIM (ordinances) and CHUKIM (decrees) contained within. Thus tracing the language of the BRANCHES back to the ROOT we discover the qualities of the CREATOR. This discloses that the MISHPATIM are expressions of the MIDDOT of the CREATOR.

The CHAI (life) that animates ADAM RISHON (the human conscious experience) is the CREATOR. It is written, “I call heaven and earth today to bear witness against you: I have placed life and death before you, blessing and curse, and you shall choose life, so that you will live, you and your offspring, to love HaShem your God, to listen to His voice and cleave to Him, for He is your LIFE…” Deuteronomy 30:19,20a This EMET (truth) discloses that the MIDDOT of the Creator is contained within the SOUL that animates us. From this EMET we are able to discern that the MISHPATIM can be used as a SULAM (ladder) to ascend and discover the MIDDOT of our TRUE SELVES. Employing the language of the BRANCHES in this way is how to effect TIKKUNIM (the correction) in the attainment of the TRUTH of BEING and the actualization thereof. The actualization is experienced as EQUIVALENCE of FORM, that is, the manifestation of the DEATHLESS ONE in the KLI (physical form).

These IKARIM (principles) that give rise to BIRURIM (purification) are based upon the administration of ברית חדשה from the KOHANIM and LEVITES that are appointed by ECHAD in the ingathering of the LOST TRIBES (Israel). In this ISRAEL will be seen not as a biological identification, but rather as a state of enlightenment revealing the SOUL to be an individual aspect of ECHAD, Blessed be His Name.

SHEMOT

Shalom, Shalom. We commence this DEVAR TORAH by focusing upon the call to the work of the ministry experienced by the NAVI MOSHE. The SIDRAH discloses that prior to the BURNING BUSH experience, the NAVI MOSHE underwent what may be termed as the development of DEDUCTIVE THINKING.

Why DEDUCTIVE THINKING? In TARYAG MITZVOT, there are 613 laws. Two hundred and forty-eight of those laws are positive. Three hundred and sixty-five of those laws are negative. Those negative laws may be described as things not to do. To effect action in the things not to do requires DEDUCTIVE THINKING. This is based upon the idea that ACTION is the effect of what one thinks either on the CONSCIOUS or SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL. The development of DEDUCTIVE THINKING is the development of a THOUGHT LIFE of things not to do. The effective leader is one who leads by both word and example. The NAVI MOSHE commences this journey of the development of things not to do, that is, DEDUCTIVE THINKING, after killing an EGYPTIAN who had abused a HEBREW MAN. His desire to employ force as a way of EFFECTING REDEMPTION had to be dealt with. The response and reaction he had experienced taught him what not to do, yea, the preparation of an EFFECTIVE LEADER preceded his calling. DEDUCTIVE THINKING is over fifty percent of what needs to be taught to those who will unfold EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP.