By: Rabbi Yitzhak Ariel Shalom. In the beginning of Parshat Mishpatim, the Torah describes the process of the Eved Ivri, or Jewish servant, who is sold as a servant to someone whom he stole from and has no means by which to repay. The verses explain that the servants works for six years and is let free on the seventh year. If one is brought into servitude alone, he exits alone and if one is married, his wife exits with him. This means that the owner is no longer responsible for supporting the servants spouse as he had been during the years of servitude. One of the greatest Sephardic Torah scholars, the Chida, explains this portion of the parsha metaphorically. The relationship between the Eved, or servant, to the Master is symbolic of the relationship between every Jewish neshama, or soul, and Hashem. The neshama is sent down to this world to be a servant of Hashem. The release of the servant during the seventh year symbolizes the expiration of the neshama from this world after an average of 70 years. The wife, explains the Chida, represents attachment to Torah and the children represent students. The verse explained that when one entered servitude alone he exits alone, but if he entered with a wife she is sent free with him. According to the metaphor, this means that when a person lived in this world without having toiled in Torah, he will leave this world baron and alone. However if one did toil in Torah in this world, that will exit with him and escort him. When somebody passes away, none of his possessions will accompany him into the next world. All of the wealth, honor, and prestige that a person amasses in this world will stay in this world. The only things that a person is able to transfer with him into the world to come are his merits which he accumulated through the study of Torah and following of its commandments. May we all merit to collect as many mitzvoth as we can throughout our journey in this world. Shabat Shalom. |
