Briefly D'var Torah ––– Yitro

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––– Briefly D’var Torah ––– Yitro: Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 Parshat Mishpatim “Every day is an unrepeatable miracle.” These words of wisdom, shared with me by a former choir director, have stuck with me throughout my life. Every opportunity and experience we encounter, every conversation we have, and the choices we make are unique to each and every day. While it can often feel like we are simply going through the motions of the same routine day in and day out, each new day presents us with a blank canvas. The painting we create by the end of the day is never the same as the one before it. By approaching each day as an unrepeatable miracle, we allow ourselves to see the holy in the mundane and to find wonder in each new day. When my teacher shared this quote years ago in the middle of a choir rehearsal, I couldn’t have anticipated just how much her wisdom would guide me throughout my life. In many ways, the wisdom and advice we receive from those around us serves as a guidebook for our lives. We internalize the voices of our friends, family members, teachers and mentors, quotes from our favorite books, movies and podcasts, and wisdom from everyday conversations that help us navigate our world. In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Mishpatim, God has just given the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and Moses is now tasked with telling the Israelites a list of detailed rules and laws. While the laws in Parshat Mishpatim were intended for the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, the wisdom found in these words is just as relevant now as it was thousands of years ago. We read about justice and the power of speaking words of the truth in Exodus 23:1: “You must not carry false rumors; you shall not join hands with the guilty to act as a malicious witness.” We are taught the importance of staying clear-sighted and acting with honesty and integrity in Exodus 23:8: “Do not take bribes, for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right.” In Exodus 22:20, we read one of the most important laws in our tradition - one that reminds us to remember our roots, to show compassion to the stranger, and to always stand up for those in need: “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Parshat Mishpatim is full of words that guide us, not just in ancient times, but in our modern day. It’s up to us to interrupt their wisdom in ways that shape our lives for the better. For just as the wisdom of those we hold dear guides our ways, may the words of our Torah add their voice to our soundtrack of our lives. Shabbat Shalom, Cantorial Intern Becky Mann 1.

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