Parashat Mishpatim In English

MISHPATIM. After the revelation at Mount Sinai, Elohim dictates a series of laws to the People of Israel. These include servant laws; penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault, and robbery; civil penalties for damages, the responsibilities of the "Four Guardians"; and the rules governing the conduct of justice in the courts. Also are given Laws against the mistreatment of foreigners, the observance of the festivals in the different seasons, the laws of the offerings of agriculture for the Temple in Jerusalem, a ban on cooking meat with milk, and the precept of praying. The parashah mishpatim contains 53 precepts – 23 positives (involving doing something) and 30 negatives (involving prohibitions).