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Mitzvot, the commandments which G-d enjoins upon the people, can be classified into three groups: Mishpatim -- the social legislation: rulings similar to those every society espouses -- a grid of rational social intervention. Edut -- the testimonies of our culture and history: commemorations similar to every society's need to remember and keep alive its past. Chukim -- the super-rational dictates only the Divine can comprehend and mortals follow on faith alone. Our Torah portion's name is Mishpatim; it deals with the first category, the mitzvot, the precepts, of social legislation that has a basis in logic. "And these are...

Israel eagerly accepts the "Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven" in this week's Torah portion, with the unusual declaration, naase venishma, "We will do and we will hear."1 Why they promised to do first and hear (or "comprehend") later, has supplied preachers with sermonic material for countless years. Many Jews are in a quandary regarding observance of mitzvot. In an age of questioning and understanding, the relevance and meaning of many Jewish practices are obscure. "Why?" is the constant challenge; "What will this observance do for me?" is the implicit demand. There may be certain human experiences that can be...

The crossing of the Red Sea, the manna, the water from the rock, and the war with Amalek, are some of the events described in this week's Torah portion. Each of these pleads for discussion, and at the moment we will dwell on the manner of victory over Amalek. The Torah portion's last words make Amalek the eternal enemy of Israel, proclaiming "war with Amalek from generation to generation." "When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. And the hands of Moses became heavy…"1 With these words the battle is decided; not...

3. The Vulnerability of the MindThe Torah tells us that there are certain prohibitions which pertain only to the Melech Yisroel (King of Israel). The Torah states, "Only he shall not have too many horses for himself, so that he will not return the people to Egypt in order to increase horses....And he shall not have too many wives, so that his heart not turn astray; and he shall not greatly increase silver and gold for himself." The Gemara in Tractate Sanhedrin tells us that Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon), who was the wisest man to who ever lived, raised sables...

GOTTA SEE THIS-War for Enduring Freedom 9/23/02 BREAKING: Mitzvot in Petah Tikva, Israel BREAKING: Ramallah, Terrorist-in_Chief Arafat, BREAKING: Perps in Gaza, Ramallah, Hebron, and Ein el-Hilweh, Lebanon, BREAKING: Blood libel against America in Damascus, Syria, Heroes in Bagram on Hydrema 910 MCVs Kabul, dog fight, zoo, children -- FREED BY THE USA, dwindling firewood Kandahar, samovar, teahouse, court ISRAEL - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly More Murders by the Insane Terrorist Palestinians ============ Bagram, Afghanistan =========== In Bagram, the Army's Hydrema 910 MCVs (Mine Clearing Vehicles) are driven by heroes as they clear deep personel and tank mines....