Mishpatim
In Parashat Mishpatim in Perek 23, pasuk 8, the Torah says ‘ViShochad Lo Tikach.’ Here the Torah is warning judges not to take bribes. The Torah continues and explains that bribery is able to blind or cloud the wisdom of smart people, and it’s able to warp or bend the words of the righteous. The next pasuk in the Parasha says ‘ViGer Lo Tilchatz’, which literally means, ‘do not oppress the convert (stranger)’. The Torah continues and explains to have compassion for a stranger and understand the plight of the stranger, for we as Jews once too were strangers while in temporarily in Egypt. We should act compassionately towards strangers, not like the torment we went through at the hands of the Egyptians.
Why do these 2 Pesukim appear next to each other? What do they have in common to teach us? So, I once heard a commentary as to the connection between these 2 Pesukim.
Bribery is not limited to only judges. Everyone is susceptible to bribery. Furthermore, bribery is not limited in form to monetary exchange. A person is bribed and influenced by various situations experienced throughout life. Experiences cause one to think and react in a specific manner. Therefore, the Torah tells us ‘ViShochad Lo Tikach’, meaning we should not let our experiences cause us to react in a non objective way. So the connection teaches us not to let past experiences influence our thinking and bring about negative actions or cruel behavior towards others.
For example, a fellow might be tough on a stranger if he himself was as stranger and mottled through the rough times. The fellow might feel that that the stranger should and will endure just as he had done. Some immigrants might feel today that no one helped them when they arrived on the shores of Ellis Island, and as such why should they help the new immigrants with grants, and entitlements? This attitude is exactly what the Torah is telling us to avoid. The Torah is telling us to in fact have compassion on strangers and on those individuals who are in despair.
Another example is of a person who loses a job. Don’t be tough on that person even if you might have been uncared for when you lost a job. Even though you dredged through the hard times, it doesn’t mean that you should have a hardened heart on someone else. Don’t let your past experiences influence your actions. In this case, help that person to find a job even though no one might have helped you earlier.
‘ViGer Lo Tilchatz’ -do not oppress the Ger. Do not treat the stranger as we were treated in Egypt, AND do not let that difficult experience harden your heart and influence your actions to others when they are strangers and in need. The Torah is teaching us all proper behavior, as we should not let judges nor ourselves be bribed by physical exchange, nor by experiences. Be compassionate, merciful, and true.
