Parshat Mishpatim appears very out of place in the book of Shmot, couched between: Bnei Yisrael’s extraordinary journey from downtrodden slaves to an uplifted nation receiving the Torah from Hashem at Har Sinai and the final parshiyot that delve into the intricacies of the mishkan and priestly garments.
So what are we to make of parshat Mishpatim, a seemingly dry recitation of numerous civil laws that appears out of place in the Exodus narrative?
Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa focuses on the word “Lifnayhem” in the first verse of the parsha – “V’eleh hamishpatim asher tasim lifnayhem – And these are the ‘laws’ that you shall set before them.”
Rav Simcha observes that the mitzvot in Parshat Mishpatim fall primarily under the category of “bein adam l’chavero” – commandments governing relationships between man and man. Before parshat Mishpatim, we studied the development of the relationship beween Man and Hashem via a series of open miracles culminating in the Har Sinai experience. Now the Torah shifts gears and focuses on mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro.
The message conveyed by the word “lifnayhem” is that mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro take priority. Consistent with the dictum in pirkei avot of “Derech eretz kadma l’torah” (ethical behaviour precedes the Torah)– Rav Simcha states that “lifnayhem” teaches us that first mastering the mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro is a prerequisite for mastering mitzvoth bein adam l’makom (between Man and G-d).
It emerges that parshat Mishpatim is not out of place, but very appropriately positioned as a key step in the process that takes Bnei Yisroel from attachment to Hashem via miracles to the more enduring attachment to Hashem via emulation of His ways by caring for others.
If we can succeed in perfecting our mitzvoth bein adam l’chaveiro, then we may become worthy of further revelation of G-d’s presence in this world (as signified by the mishkan and priestly services discussed in the subsequent parshiyot).
Shabbat Shalom!