In this week’s parasha, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18), we leave the narrative story of the Exodus to focus on the rules and regulations that will give shape to our people and community.  The parasha begins with a set of regulations governing slavery: "When you acquire a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh year he shall go free without payment," (Ex. 21:2).  If the slave wishes to stay on, the master will pierce his year to show this voluntary commitment.  The Torah here protects those in our community who have fallen on hard times, and tells us to "not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt," (Ex. 23:9).

The parasha continues to outline other legalities, such as  punishments for crimes such as kidnapping, insulting a parent, striking a slave, causing a miscarriage, and an ox causing the death of a person.   If a person’s livestock ventures onto another person’s property to graze, the owner must make restitution for the impairment of that field.  If a thief is caught, he must pay back the owner double what he stole.

In this Torah portion, we learn that there are different laws for engaging in business deals with Jews than non-Jews.  "If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor, exact no interest from them," (Ex. 22:24).

 It is also in this parasha that we are reminded of some central commandments for our people: no work on the sabbath; three festivals each year – Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot; and the separation of meat and milk.

The Lord tells Moses that he will send an angel before the people as they pas through the lands of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.  He warns them to not bow down to the gods of these peoples.  God promises to drive out these enemies, allowing the Israelites to possess the land.

The people agree to all the conditions they’ve just heard, and God tells Moses to ascend up the mountain.  As Moses climbs, the Presence of the Lord appears to the Israelites as a consuming fire on the top of the mountain.  Moses remained on the mountain for forty days and forty night.