The laws contained in this week’s Sedrah, Mishpatim, are for the most part civil laws. Civil Laws are the laws regulating everyday life in a “civilized” society. Laws concerning business, property, and family issues are considered civil laws. In our society such laws are part of City, State and Federal Government regulations. In Judaism all these laws are found in the Torah.
The Torah contains laws pertaining to God and the Jewish People as well as law pertaining to human interaction. According to the Torah, how we treat our neighbors is a religious act. To be truly religious we must deal righteously with our friends and neighbors. We must be honest, charitable, treat workers fairly, observe the holidays, as well as pray to God. In fact the great Hillel said that loving our neighbor like ourselves, and doing to others as we would have others do to us, is the most important part of Jewish law.
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