Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

The Torah reminds us that slaves have to be treated humanely because we are all created in the image of God.

If a Jew who is enslaved does not wish to go free in the Sabbatical year he is punished. The reason is that the Torah can only be observed by someone who is free. A slave is not a full person.

The Torah states that the purpose of the Jews leaving Egypt was that they were to serve God. Yet instead of the Jews building the tabernacle where they would serve God, God first gives them moral and ethical laws.

Morality which is not based on religion will lead to disaster. This is not to say that religion based morality can not be abused but a good religion will produce good people based on moral principles.

No where in the Torah does it just say to be a good person. It gives commands, that if followed will make one a good person.

As the Jews were getting ready to receive the 10 Commandments, they were commanded to wash their clothes. That they had to be appropriately dressed. This is to teach us that how we dress makes a difference.

Jethro is the source for the Jewish judicial system. What is amazing is that Moses took Jethro’s advice, both because he was a non-Jew and his father in law. This shows us that a truly great leader knows that he does not have all the answers.

If a person wishes to live among Jews but not be a part of the Jewish nation, he has to accept the 7 Noahide laws, which means he has to accept the idea that the Torah is the supreme law of the land.

Amalek struck when the Jews were complaining. They sensed that the Jews were divided. This is true of all our enemies. They believe that if we are fighting among ourselves then we are weak.

We learn that Moses was concerned with honoring Joseph’s wish to be buried in Israel. This is to teach us that we have to honor those who came before us.