דבר תורה פרשת משפטים
There used to be a cartoon show called Jimmy Neutron. In each episode, he would create an invention to make life better for himself. In one specific episode, Jimmy makes some invention that made all the parents disappear and the kids ruled for the day. Kids were SO excited! This meant no school, ice cream for all meals, no need to shower - they were elated!
At some point during the episode, this excitement dissipates. You see is piles of smelly dirty laundry, kids are lying on their backs moaning because their stomachs hurt from all the junk food - they look horrible. The house is dirty, they are dirty, and they cant function - they need help.
Jimmy realizes that being without parents is not as great as he thought it would be.
In Parshat Mishpatim we got all of these laws that we are supposed to follow. These laws may seem like a burden, but what they create is a structure for us to live our lives in the best way that we can. HaShem knows the broader picture and understands that these laws are a good framework for being happy and living in the best way as a Jew. Sometimes it might feel like these laws are hard to follow, and some people may have thoughts to throw them away, but imagine what life would be like without them. We would be without structure, and without purpose. Life would be meaningless. Let's read this weeks parsha with a new found love for the laws that Hashem generously created for us.
