Mishpatim — Laws
Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּטִים | Book: Shemot (Exodus)
Summary
Civil laws; laws of servants, damages, property; Shabbat; Shavuot; the covenant at Sinai (Na’aseh veNishma).
Chabad Chassidic Teachings
Na’aseh veNishma — We Will Do and We Will Hear
The Jewish people’s response to the covenant: “Na’aseh veNishma” — “we will do and [then] we will understand/hear.” This reversal of the natural order (understanding before action) is one of the most celebrated principles in all of Chabad thought.
The Alter Rebbe explains: kabbalat ol (acceptance of the yoke) — acting out of commitment rather than waiting until one fully understands — is the highest expression of Divine service. Understanding is important and to be pursued, but it cannot be the condition for action.
The angels called this the “secret that the ministering angels use” — because angels, too, fulfill Divine will before comprehending it.
Chukkim and Mishpatim: Two Types of Mitzvot
Mishpatim (civil laws) are the rational mitzvot — their logic is evident. Chukkim (statutes like para adumah) are suprarational — no apparent reason.
Chabad: both are expressions of the same infinite Divine will. The mishpatim are not “merely” ethical because they happen to make rational sense — they are Divine commands that also make sense. The chukkim reveal the unlimited nature of Divine will that transcends human comprehension. Both train different aspects of the soul.
The Inner Dimension of Civil Law
Even the detailed civil laws of Mishpatim have inner dimensions:
- Laws of property = guarding the boundaries of the nefesh ha-behemit and not allowing it to steal from the nefesh ha-elokit’s spiritual inheritance
- Laws of damages = the spiritual damage caused when the animal soul injures the divine soul through sin
Key Concepts
Sources Cited
Shemot 24:7; Shabbat 88a; Zohar II:93a