26 Shevat, 5783

February 17, 2023


Parshat Mishpatim

This week’s parsha opens with the phrase “v’eileh hamishpatim,” which translates as “and these are the judgments.” The first Rashi, explaining the reason that a seemingly new topic would begin with “and,” states, “Wherever, ‘these are,’ is used, it cuts off the preceding section from that which it introduces; where, however, ‘AND these is used, it adds something to the former subject. So too here: ‘AND these are the judgments’: Just as the former subject (the Ten Commandments) were given at Sinai, so to these (the “judgments” that will follow) were given at Sinai.”


What Rashi appears to be stating is that the “and” at the beginning of our parsha is there to connect it to the previous revelation of the Ten Commandments, thus emphasizing that the many (and there are many!) mitzvot contained in our parsha are also of divine origin. I believe this idea requires further explanation.


First off, there are countless cases in Biblical Hebrew of phrases beginning with “vov” (and) that do not seem obviously connected to any previous material. For example, the Megillah begins with, “And it was in the days of Achashverosh.” Some of the commentaries here (R’ Avraham ben HaRambam and others) actually point this out. Furthermore, how could we have thought these mitzvot do not come from Hashem? Would anyone have assumed that Moshe just made them up? What about the rest of the mitzvot in the Torah? Do they also require such a warning? There does not seem to be anywhere else where we are concerned about this.



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February 20 - Presidents' Day, No School


February 27 - HS STEM Day


February 28 - LS/MS Parent Teacher Conferences on ZOOM, No School for K-8


March 2 - Kohelet "In-School" Cafe


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March 7 - Purim - No School, Women's Megillah Reading at 10:15 AM


March 10-11 - HS 10/11 Shabbaton




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Before we get to a possible explanation, it is important to preface the following idea. In general, it is known that the mitzvot of the Torah can be divided into three categories. The category of “mishpatim” (judgments) refers to the mitzvot that we understand the reasons for and likely would have thought of them on our own. In this category would be included such commandments as “do not steal,” “do not murder,” and much of the Torah’s civil law as we find in this week’s parsha. Another category, “edot” refers to mitzvot that we may not have thought of on our own, but the Torah explains the reason for us. An example of this would be eating Matzah on Pesach, which we do in order to remember the exodus from Egypt. The final category, “chukim”, refers to mitzvot that we do not understand the reason, but do them only because Hashem told us to, such as much of the kosher laws, shaatnez, etc.


With this in mind, we can go back and try to understand what Rashi was teaching us. The vast majority of the mitzvot in this week’s parsha match with its name and fall in the category of “mishpatim” – the rational commandments. It is very tempting, therefore, to perform these commandments simply because they are just, fair, and logical – but not as fulfillment of divine will. What Rashi was perhaps trying to emphasize by showing that “these too were given at Sinai” is that when we fulfill even the rational commandments it is important that we perform them primarily because Hashem told us to, and not because they make sense. Why? Because when one does a mitzvah out of one’s own logic, it is possible that one could justify exceptions. For example, one may believe it is rational not to cheat someone in general, but maybe that guy who cheated me yesterday, I could cheat him! It is only fair after all. However, if we view these mitzvot as divine commandments, then there is no room for such logic. Indeed, we must keep them with the same rigor and fervor as the more “religious” mitzvot – simply because G-d said so.


May we all appreciate and recognize the divine wisdom in every mitzvah, and indeed as Rashi has shown us, in every letter of the Torah.


Shabbat Shalom,


Rabbi Avner Anton

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High School Happenings

Mitzvah Momentum!

We are excited about a school-wide (K-8), year-long initiative that we introduced to the students called Mitzvah Momentum!


Students in grades K-8 will be focusing on a particular mitzvah during each part of the year. In February we are focusing on Bikur Cholim, March-April will be Tzedakah, and May-June will be Hakarat HaTov. 


There are various components to this program depending on the age of your child, outlined in the Mitzvah Momentum At Home Chart that appears above. 


As part of this program, we are asking each Kohelet family to discuss a Chessed that you would like to get involved in as a family during December. Please click here to download the Mitzvah Momentum At Home Chart and then fill in your family's Chessed and attach a picture of your family performing the Chessed (if you'd like).

News from Kohelet Yeshiva

Our 7th and 8th grade students presented an amazing (and really fun!) musical performance for their peers. It was a great job by all of our KYMS musicians!

Our high school students were privileged to hear from Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, a well-known and well-regarded author, educator, and posek, who is the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion and Rosh Yeshiva of Lev Academic Center. Rav Rimon, who is also the founder of "Sulamot," which advances innovations in Torah education globally, and "La'Ofek," which works with marginalized populations in Israel, helping them to become gainfully employed, spoke to our students about the topic "Questions Under Fire: From the Battlefield to Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon." Thank you to Lower Merion Synagogue for facilitating and hosting this informative and inspirational program with Rav Rimon!

In 4/5 Ivrit, our students learned פועל & שם הפועל using fun and exciting methods, including writing a short story and presenting it in front of the class, while pointing out the פועל & שם פועל.

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