This Lelamed Dvar is also available in your local App Store (iTunes and Android). Please enjoy, and share responsibly... _______________________________________________ This week's Parsha, Mishpatim, starts "and these are the laws which you shall set before them (21:1)." Rashi points out that G-d told Moshe that it's not enough to just teach the Torah, and that Moshe should present it to the Jews like a set table from which one is ready to eat, which is done by explaining the reasons for all the Mitzvot (commandments) as well. As Rabbi Zweig asks, why is this true and what does the analogy to a set table from which one could readily eat mean? Rabbi Zweig answers that the Torah is presenting one of the most important underlying principles of Judaism. There are two purposes in eating: nutrition and pleasure. When G-d tells Moshe to give the Torah to the Jews as a set table, He is referring to the presentation of the Mitzvot, which is a focus not to the nutritional aspect but rather to the pleasurable aspect. G-d is telling Moshe that it isn't enough to just perform the Mitzvot; the people are also meant to enjoy them. The laws are to be presented in such a way that we should understand them, thereby deriving pleasure from them and have a desire to repeat them. The lesson is that the Torah must be transformative; it isn't enough to give charity, one must become a charitable person. A charitable person feels good and derives pleasure from helping others. It isn't enough to keep Shabbos, one must connect to the spirit of Shabbos and take pleasure in everything it has to offer. One can only accomplish this by having an understanding of the reasons for the Mitzvot, something worth all of our efforts in improving. Shlomo Ressler _______________________________________________ Quotation of the Week: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw