Prison weekly February 21, 2004

Mishpatim For the week of February 21, 2004 / 29 Shevat 5764 Torah: Shemot / Exodus 21:1-24:18 & 30:11-16 Haftarah: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26 Replaced by: 2 Melachim / 2 Kings 12:1-17 & 1 Shmuel / 1 Samuel 20:18 & 42 Truly Impartial Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit (Shemot / Exodus 23:2,3). The Torah provides us with God's perspective of things. As we read it, we start to see life as God does. Through the Torah we are called to live that kind of life. I find that many of the ways we try to follow God are based on our assumptions or traditions rather than upon what God actually says. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to keep referring to the Scriptures. They alone are our point of reference for God's eternal truth. The verse quoted here from this week's parasha (Torah reading) is a wonderful example of how God's way of thinking can be so different from ours. The first part of this statement is something we might expect: "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong." This is then specifically applied to lawsuits. We must not give in to the pressure that the majority applies in such situations. The majority should not determine what we should do. This is easy to say, but not always so easy to do. Nevertheless, we must do what is right no matter what. But doing what is right is not just about resisting the pressure to follow the crowd. The Torah also instructs us to "not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit." This principle may not be that obvious to us, since we tend to think that standing up for the underdog is a noble thing. Note that this passage is not addressing our God-given responsibility to help the poor. We must be compassionate towards the less fortunate of our societies. But this call to compassion is not to be interpreted as a reason to show favoritism. The poor's susceptibility to oppression by the more powerful of our society does not mean we should take their side in a dispute solely on the basis of their being poor. Justice is for all regardless of one's place or economic condition in society. As we are involved in the disputes of others, we need to be careful not to take sides, but to remain impartial. A Very Jewish Story "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son" (Zechariah 12:10). Have you ever thought about what associates something with one culture or another? What makes Spaghetti, Italian and Tea, English, especially when both of these examples have their roots in China? Most cultures have associated foods, music, dress, and other customs. Some cultural associations are more recognizable by people outside a particular culture, while some are mainly noticed from within. How a custom becomes part of a particular community is complicated. Where a people settle, their migrations, positive and negative relationships with other peoples, spiritual and philosophical influences, political concepts, etc. all play a part in molding a community's culture. Those outside of a particular community may have trouble understanding cultural sentiments of that community. It takes a long time, if ever, to get to know those who are different from ourselves. I grew up in a very Jewish neighborhood. Though I went to a public school, most of the people I knew were Jewish. I did not have a lot of experience outside of my own community. Additionally most of my Jewish friends were like me in that they did not come from religious homes. Yet at the same time our cultural context was Jewish. When I was about 16 years old, the High School band I was in was involved in a band exchange. The school band from another city came to our school. The band members stayed in our homes. We showed them around our city and we performed in a concert together. About a month later, we did the same in their city. I remember when I was in my host family's home. Sandwiches were prepared for lunch one day. I was asked if I ate a particular type of sliced meat, which I did. Yet I was not prepared for what I saw. They put butter on the bread! I had never in my life seen butter on the bread of a meat sandwich. You might think this strange, but it is true. My hosts probably thought I was strange. But for me it was like being transported to another planet. I cannot and do not fault those nice people for not being sensitive to my cultural background. How could they be? In fact, it is difficult even now to explain why the butter was an issue. In the same way I also do not fault anyone for not understanding why the Gospel story is not understood as a Jewish story. Many assume that it should be. After all every element of it is Jewish. It takes place in the land of Israel among Jewish people. It is the story of a travelling teacher, which was common at that time in that place. Every other aspect of the story is also Jewish. His was not the first miracle birth in Jewish history, the Hebrew Scriptures were his point of reference, and many of his concepts were in keeping with the religious concepts of his day. Even his conflict with the religious authorities was in line with the Jewish prophets before him. The very concept of "Messiah" is Jewish. That God would be concerned about earthly things like food, wine, and healing sickness is Jewish. And his crowning feat: the resurrection of the dead is a cornerstone of Jewish thought. And yet in spite of all this, the common sentiment among most Jewish people today is that the Gospel story is about as un-Jewish a story as there is. How could that be? It's like that sandwich. The bread and meat could have been from the finest Jewish delicatessen in the world, but there was something about the butter that made something so culturally relevant into something, not only foreign, but repulsive. Through the centuries there have been layers and layers of things spread over this most Jewish story that have made it on one hand acceptable and understandable to millions of non-Jews, yet objectionable to the very people to whom Yeshua came. Those layers include cultural elements designed to help make this very Jewish story more understandable to non-Jewish peoples. The presence of these things, while helpful to non-Jews, have made the story confusing to Jewish people. On top of those things have also been layers of negative attitudes toward Jewish people. How can something be seen as culturally relevant to a people who have been continually harmed by that story? What has happened to the Jewish people and the Gospel is as if what Italians did to noodles and the English did to tea would make these things revolting to the Chinese. This, of course, is not what happened. But it is what has happened to the Gospel. And yet it will not always be this way. The day is coming when somehow all the years of misunderstanding will be swept away, and the Gospel will be seen for what it really is - a very Jewish story. Parsha: Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24) Family Parsha Mishpatim 5764 By: Nesanel Safran Everyone knows that "fair is fair." The only problem is figuring out just what fair is. Wouldn't it be great if we knew what God thought was fair? Well, we do. It's called the Torah. This week's portion is packed with all sorts of guidelines how to deal with conflicts and damages in the fairest, most just way possible. When we learn and live by the Torah's guideline, we create an environment that will keep people at peace with each other.In our story we learn how the Torah's wisdom helps some brothers work out their differences - fairly. "SMASHING SUCCESS" I was sitting at my desk at home, deep in my studies. At my Hebrew Day School we were learning all about fairness and how to treat each other's property. It was fascinating stuff and I was really into it. Then suddenly I jumped at the sound of a loud crash and lots of shouting. It sounded like World War III had started up in the next room. How in the world was I supposed to do my homework in the middle of all this noise? I tried to ignore the racket and put my head back in the books, but it was no use. "Hey guys, can you please keep it down?" I shouted as I pushed open the door to the room of my younger twin brothers. But the scene that met my eyes made me stop in my tracks. Sammy was standing on a chair, holding a Casio keyboard threateningly over his head like King Kong on the Empire State Building, with Dave, face red as a beet, jumping up and down in the middle of a pile of batteries and wires trying to snatch the keyboard from him. Neither of them paid me the least drop of attention. "What in the world is going on?!" I yelled. Finally, Sammy looked my way. "I'm going to smash this thing to smithereens - that's what!" "Don't you dare!" screamed Dave hysterically, as he took another swipe at his twin's arm. The two of them were always pretty rough and tumble, but this looked serious. "Whoa! Wait a minute. Can you guys declare a two-minute cease-fire and tell me what's happening?" They looked at each other. "Let's let Josh decide, okay?" said Dave, as his twin nodded in agreement. They explained to me how Dave had borrowed Sammy's game-boy, and while his brother was outside playing, Dave had dropped it on the floor, where it turned into the electronic pile of spaghetti that now lay at my feet. Sammy figured it was only fair that he should be allowed to 'return the favor' and smash his brother's keyboard. They were both very angry and I realized I had about ten seconds to come up with something brilliant before the truce broke down. But what could I say? How in the world was I supposed to know what's fair? Suddenly it dawned on me. This was exactly the kind of thing I was learning about in Day School! Maybe I didn't know what was fair, but the Torah did. I tried hard to remember, what did it say ... yeah, that was it! "Guys, the Torah has just the fair solution." "I'm allowed to smash it, right?" said Sammy. "Not quite." "Oh, so it's not my fault then!" declared Dave with a smile. "Well, not quite that either." "So then what?" they both shouted at the same time. "Well the Torah says that if someone borrows from somebody else and the thing breaks, he has to make restitution." "Resti-what?" asked Dave. I laughed. "It means he has to pay for the damage. The other guy can't take revenge by breaking his thing, but neither can the first guy just walk away scot-free. Well, what do you say, guys?" The room was quiet, and I held my breath. Finally 'King Kong' climbed slowly down off the chair. "Sounds fair to me - if he's willing to pay for me to get another game-boy. Smashing his keyboard won't get me anywhere." We looked over at Dave. "Yeah, I guess it's only fair, I did break his thing. I was saving up my allowance to get a scooter, but I'll have to wait, that's all." They shook hands and once again peace reigned at 25 Meadow Drive. "I'd better go back to my studies to make sure I know the answer to the next pickle you guys get yourelves into!" Aish.com True light from the Word Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing INSTANT in prayer;The Snow outside was falling. The snow flakes had already covered everything and it was predicted that it would snow all night. Pastor and his wife were looking forward to the snow. Since moving out of the Big city to the small town of 500 houses all things seemed to have taken on different meanings. Things were slower and time seemed just to flow by as they watched their young children grow. Yes the children would look forward to playing in the new white covering! Things seemed wonderful! Then the phone rang, mom picked up the phone. Pastor saw the look of fear come out of his wife, she fell to the floor on her knees screaming out to the Father "No No, Lord save her" After things calmed a little Pastor discovered that mom's little sister's Roman 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing INSTANT in prayerYou see her sister was in an abusive relationship. The man she had been living with was a alcoholic and abusive. This night he had decided to take their two year old daughter and go driving around in the country drinking. The news was his car had been found, hit by a train! He and their two year old daughter was no where to be found! No wonder Mom was on her knees crying, wailing and most important calling on the Father. Phone calls went back and forth as the snow kept falling. No trace was being found of either. The car was crushed from the drivers side but no bodies. Snow the wonderful snow was no longer looked at as wonderful. The snow had covered all tracks and it was after dark getting colder, later and the snow kept coming. Finally a call came somehow he had made it dragging his daughter over two miles across country, up and down the Flint hills that were covered in snow, to where mom's sister worked at the rest stop on the turnpike.Mt 18:10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their ANGELS do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.There he staggered in towing the two year old. The two year old was rushed to the hospital where all were amazed that there was nothing wrong with the little Baby. The next day Pastor and his wife drove out to the site where the car was. It was mangled. It was hard to even walk up the large snowy hills just how had they made it over two miles in the dark to the rest stop on the turnpike where her sister worked. They knew, what a wonderful God we have! Pastor dan of Messiah's Branch Shalom everyone I would just like to comment on this as it still brings tears to my eyes thinking of memories from this event. My niece was just under two my then brother-in-law had been drinking wiskey for hours and stopped on the tracts I assume to torment my poor little niece. (later in the week we learned that just two weeks prior to this he was awakened by a friend of our's sleeping on RR tracts in our town and the baby playing in the back.) He went to sleep there on the tracts and the sound of the trains horn woke him just in time to grab their baby and bail them out the passangers door just as the drivers side doorwas hit. The train hit that hugh station wagon with such impact that there was NO front seat or back seat for that matter it was pancaked and drug for over a mile. This man drug that little baby close to five miles or better in over a foot of snow through wheat fields still snowing with freezing winds and NO COAT OR SHOES on her little body. They reached the turnpike restraunt where my sister was ending her shift and she nearly fainted at the site of her baby. Her baby was as red as red can be. My sister called for an ambulance immediately and the baby was rushed into the ER with nothing more than Hyperthermia. (ALL PRAISE TO YAHWEH) Her husband was arrested that night and charged with DUI and child indangerment. A short time latter he was released on his word to appear and no one has ever seen him since. He has never answered for either of these crimes and my niece who is now I believe ten years old still has nightmares and is deathly afraid of trains. My Father in Heaven answered my many prayers that night and not only did HE save her life but HE set them free of the abuse they indured daily. Please pray for my niece as she has many problems in her life and I believe it has a lot to do with the abuse she lived in as a infant and toddler. Blessings and Shalom sisterlinda Last weeks Answers How old was Abraham when Isaac was born? A. 100, Genesis 21:5 5: And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him Passage: John 5:39-47 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42: But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43: I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? Question:What did the people do when Yahweh appeared before them on Mount Sinai ? Find this Passage My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.with much love sisterlinda & Mark 9:23,10:27 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible

Answers Do Not Print

What did the people do when Yahweh appeared before them on Mount Sinai ? A. They moved far back from the mount and told Moses to speak with them for they feared they would die if they talked with Yahweh.Exodus 20:18-19 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

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Passage is Found:

1 JOHN 2:1-11

1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2>: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.3>: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4>: He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5>: But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6>: He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7>: Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8>: Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9>: He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10: He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11>: But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.