This week, we have received with great sadness the terrible news of the return of the lifeless bodies of the Bibas babies and Oded Lifshitz that were kidnapped on October 7, reminding us once again of the brutality and inhumanity of our enemies. While the Torah teaches us to value life, to live and let live, to build a society based on justice, compassion and mutual respect, the terrorists seek the opposite: destruction, terror and the annihilation of the people of Israel. They do not respect or value life, nor the values that underpin civilization.
Our Parasha portion, Mishpatim, speaks to us about interpersonal laws and coexistence among human beings. What is remarkable is that these laws come immediately after the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, recounted in the previous Parasha.
The sages comment that we might have expected that, after the giving of the Ten Commandments, the Torah would continue with teachings on lofty and profound concepts, such as the mysteries of the upper worlds. However, the Torah chooses to focus on a fundamental aspect: The value of life as the most sacred thing that exists in this world, the laws of coexistence, justice and ethics in our daily relationships. It instructs us on how to act in situations that may arise in daily life, such as physical or material harm caused to others.
The Torah teaches us to love our neighbors and to be human beings of integrity and sensitive to the needs of others. It teaches us to take responsibility for our actions, to repair any damage caused, to be careful with our words, actions and gestures so as not to hurt others. These principles are not mere abstract ideals; they are the foundation of a just and moral society.
This is the central message of the Torah: before aspiring to high religious levels, we must first establish ourselves as “Ben Adam,” as true human beings who act with integrity, empathy, and responsibility. Only when we build ourselves on these essential values, can we begin to delve into higher aspects of the Torah and try to be more religious.
In times of darkness, when we are faced with the disregard for life and the cruelty of our enemies, our response must be on the one hand to act with courage, firmness, and without fear, and on the other hand to strengthen our values, bring spiritual light to the world, improve our unity, and educate our conviction that life is sacred.
True spirituality is not separate from everyday life. It is found in every act of kindness, in every effort to do good, in every decision to be just and compassionate.
Because being spiritual does not mean disconnecting from reality, but transforming it with the principles of the Torah, making this world a more just and humane place.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen