Parshas Mishpatim: The Brain Sharpener (5760)

Parshas Mishpatim: The Brain Sharpener (5760)
By: Mordechai Dolinsky

After being put into the lofty spirits by past weekly Parshios, Mishpatim has a strong “sobering” effect with its “ cold, calculated” monetary laws. That these laws were selected to be the first, presents for us a challenging question to grapple with. The Medrash quotes a Chazal 30:3 which says that just as a woman of royalty goes with bodyguards on either side so, too, the Torah was given with monetary laws before and after.

The understanding of this involves the clarification of a point of extremely important significance. There is a principle we find in Chazal – if a person wants to upgrade his thinking capabilities he should engage in the study of ‘Nezikin’, that is, monetary laws. I have a suspicion that the impact of this is not really appreciated. The most valuable faculty we have is the ability to think, to understand and to see things in the true light. Everything we do in life depends on seeing things properly. For every area in Torah study our minds much be sharp—from the study of Tanach to Halacha. How we deal with every life situation depends on our outlook, perspective and paradigm. Our relationship with all our dear ones, our spouse, children, students, bosses and employees, are all affected by our mental ability to understand things in their proper light. Therefore any means we have to enhance this most important function is by far the most precious commodity. The Chazal regarding improving our intellect by the study of Nezikin now takes on special meaning. This also could be the significance of what the Medrash that referred to the monetary laws as the protectors of the Torah means. This can also explain the priority the Torah gave to the monetary laws.

It is said about the famous Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt”l that no matter what area of Torah he was especially devoted to and studying at any given time, he always included in his daily learning program one hour of the study of Ketzos HaChoshen, the cream of the laws of Nezikin. Some would interpret this as a type of Torah ‘hobby’ that he had. In light of all that was said above I would venture to say that he was keeping his mental scalpels sharp.

All this should help us understand and appreciate the system of study we find in Yeshivos today with its emphasis on intellectual sharpening. I hope it will also serve us as a motivation and inspiration to “sharpen up” through the study of the laws of Nezikin.