Mishpatim - Rabbi Mark Diamond

Rabbi Mark S. Diamond
Executive Vice President
Board of Rabbis of Southern California

Torah Portion: Mishpatim/Shabbat Shekalim ("These are the laws...") Exodus 21:1-24:18; Exodus 30:11-16

Haftarah Portion: II Kings Chapter 11, verse 17, to Chapter 12, verse 17

February 25, 2006 / 27 Shevat 5766

This Shabbat we read parashat Mishpatim from the Book of Exodus. Mishpatim is the portion that immediately follows the revelation of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. The parasha is filled with detailed civil and criminal legislation, rules and regulations that are the hallmark of a civilized society. Dozens of mitzvot (commandments) are based upon this one small section of the Torah.

I gained a renewed appreciation of this Torah reading recently when I received a summons for jury duty. Like so many of us, I did not welcome the official notice that arrived in my mailbox. This is not a mitzvah that generates zeal and passion on my part. Jury duty ranks somewhere between getting a root canal and shopping for an automobile on my personal list of favorite pastimes. I weighed the pros and cons of postponing my service, but finally decided to "get it over with" and dutifully called the toll-free number to register for my assigned week.

When my tour of duty arrived, I faithfully called in each evening to see if I had to report for service the next day. I escaped capture the first three days. On day four, I was ordered to report for service at the Superior Court. I joined fifty other Angelinos at 8:00 AM in the jury assembly room. As I scanned the faces of my fellow citizens, I confirmed that their joy at this mitzvah opportunity equaled mine.

Most of us were relieved to discover that this courthouse handled traffic violations. How bad (read "long") could jury trials be in traffic court? Our official welcome by the clerk and a presiding judge convinced us otherwise when we learned that the jury trials were typically DUI cases that lasted 5-10 days.

This news generated a long line at the clerk’s window as potential jurors proffered explanations for why they should be dismissed from the jury pool. Nearly all returned to their seats glum and empty-handed.

I decided to take my chances and await further developments. I remained in the assembly room with my comrades in arms all morning and afternoon. As the clock ticked away, I quietly prayed for liberation from bondage. I sensed that others were doing the same, each according to his/her own faith, culture and ethnicity. Finally, at 4:00 PM, we received the blessed news that we were free to go. Our entire group had escaped unscathed!

When I reflect upon my experience at L.A. Superior Court, I am somewhat embarrassed by my reluctance to perform this mitzvah. And yet, I am also proud that I did a mitzvah that my county, state and nation enjoin upon me. It is not always fun or easy or convenient to perform a duty. But it is our responsibility to take these mitzvot seriously and to answer the call.

This Sunday is Super Sunday, our annual phone-a-thon to raise funds for the United Jewish Fund campaign. When we gather together at the City, Valley Alliance and South Bay sites, we put into practice the finest ideals of the Jewish tradition: Feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching Torah, rescuing the needy, connecting the lonely, repairing the world. Super Sunday is our annual mitzvah day for the Jewish people. May we answer the call graciously and generously.