Discussion Questions
1. Why do laws exist?
2. Are there any laws you can think of that are illogical in your opinion, and therefore should not exist?
3. Are there any laws for which you are grateful?
3. Why do we obey laws? Is there anything you would do if there were not laws preventing it?
(ד) אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֧י תַּעֲשׂ֛וּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֥י תִּשְׁמְר֖וּ לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יי אֱלֹקֵיכֶֽם׃ (ה) וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יי׃ (ס)
(4) My rules alone shall you observe, and faithfully follow My laws: I, Adonai, am your God. (5) You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which man shall live: I am Adonai.
את משפטי תעשו: אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים הָאֲמוּרִים בַּתּוֹרָה בְּמִשְׁפָּט, שֶׁאִלּוּ לֹא נֶאֶמְרוּ הָיוּ כְדַאי לְאָמְרָן:
ואת חקתי תשמרו. דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵן גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ, שֶׁיֵּצֶר הָרַע מֵשִׁיב עֲלֵיהֶם לָמָּה לָנוּ לְשָׁמְרָן? וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְשִׁיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּגוֹן אֲכִילַת חֲזִיר וּלְבִישַׁת שַׁעַטְנֵז וְטָהֳרַת מֵי חַטָּאת, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אני יי, גָּזַרְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם, אֵי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לִפָּטֵר (יומא ס"ז):
Rashi (Solomon ben Isaac, France, 1040-1105)
My rules — Matters prescribed in the Torah which are in conformity with the human feeling of justice such as one feels ought to be ordained if they had not been already ordained by the Torah.
My laws — matters which are decrees of God (promulgated without any reason being stated) against which the evil inclination raises objections: "Why should we observe them and against which also the nations of the world raise objections, as e. g., the prohibition of eating swine’s flesh, of wearing clothes of a mixture of wool and linen... Therefore it is stated: "I, Adonai," have enacted this for you — you are not at liberty to evade the obligation.
Or HaChaim (Ḥayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar, Morocco/Jerusalem, 1696-1743)
When we examine the different nuances in these two verses we will be enlightened further. In verse 4 the Torah writes אני ה׳ אלוקיכם, "I am Adonai your God," whereas in our verse the Torah only writes: אני השם, "I am Adonai." We may infer from this that the Torah addresses different Jews in the two verses.
In one verse the Torah addresses the Jews who fulfill the commandments due to a feeling of love for G'd, whereas in the other verse the Torah addresses Jews who fulfill the commandments due to a fear of punishment should they fail to observe God's laws. Sotah 31 has already taught us that the reward for people performing the commandments out of a sense of fear of God extends for up to one thousand generations, whereas the reward for people whose motivation is love for God extends for up to two thousand generations.
Rambam (Moses ben Maimon/Maimonides, Spain/Egypt, 1135-1204)
Guide For The Perplexed: 3:27.
The general object of the Law is twofold: the well-being of the soul, and the well-being of the body...The well-being of the soul is promoted by correct opinions communicated to the people according to their capacity. The well-being of the body is established by a proper management of the relations in which we live one to another.
This we can attain in two ways: first by removing all violence from our midst: that is to say, that we do not do every one as he pleases, desires, and is able to do; but every one of us does that which contributes towards the common welfare. Secondly, by teaching every one of us such good morals as must produce a good social state...
The Law exists for two reasons: it aims first at the establishment of good mutual relations among people by removing injustice and creating the noblest feelings. In this way the people in every land are enabled to stay and continue in one condition, and every one can acquire his first perfection. Secondly, it seeks to train us in faith, and to impart correct and true opinions when the intellect is sufficiently developed.
Closing Discussion
This text ends with the phrase "by the pursuit of which man shall live" in reference to the rules and laws. What do you think this means?