Highest Level of Morality

  Earl Warren a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court once made a very insightful statement  "In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics. Without ethics law could never exist."

  This Shabbat we will be reading Parshat Mishpatim. This Parsha emphasises the laws between Man and his Fellowman. The question that is always posed, 'can we legislate morality and peoples feelings?'

   My answer is; We can use legislation as a standard  setting device to show people what society really needs and believes. Torah sets these standards, thereby encouraging man/woman to live by these legislations leading to a more ethical society. There are many who go beyond these standards and  rise to an even higher level of morality leading to greater compassion, mercy, and love bringing the qualities of G-Dliness into society.

   This idea reminds me of one of my favorite stories; The Rabbis questioned why was Yerushalayim selected to be the place for the Bes Hamikdash. They answered with a fascinating story.

  In King David's time on a hill in Yerushalayim there was a farm, which was owned by two brothers, one was single the other one was married. On one occasion, after they harvested their grain they returned to their homes for the night. In the middle of the night the bachelor brother awoke and thought , "My brother is married, therefore he needs more food than I do". He arose and took from his pile of wheat with the intention of adding it to his brother's share. At the same time , the married brother awoke and thought, "My brother is single and he does not have a wife or children to help him in the cold winter ahead and he will need more food". He too arose and started adding from his pile to his brother's heap. They were both walking towards the other and they suddenly met In the middle of the night.  

  According to this legend, exactly where they met is where the Bes  Hamikdash was eventually built.

  That is what our Torah meant by living a life of ethics and morality, a life way beyond the legislative aspect of a Torah oriented life.

   I realize more and more that the true image of the law is in the hearts, minds and consciences of man.

   It is time that we put into our Religious way of life a greater sense of decency, of compassion and qualities that express true fellowship to others.