Page 46 - Shemot-e-book-RF4-FP_Neat-221215-V24102-NPW

Audio: Track 12 46
The Book of Exodus – ‫חומש שמות‬

Torah Portion Mishpatim

There are many commandments and laws concerning relationships between
people in the Torah portion of Mishpatim. One such is the command to distance
oneself from falsehood:

"From a matter of falsehood stay away…" (23:7)

In the previous Torah portion, "Yitro", Yitro recommends Moshe to choose men
of truth to help him lead the nation.

"You shall discern from among all the nation able men, God-fearing,
men of truth, those who hate bribery…" (18:21)

In the Hebrew language the word for "falsehood" ‫ ׁ ֶש ֶקר‬is composed of three
adjacent letters from the alphabet. However, the word for "truth" ‫ ֱא ֶמת‬is

composed of three letters that are very apart far from each other.

‫אבגדהוזחטיכלמנסעפצקרשת‬

"‫" ֱא ֶמת‬

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiah says that Eliyahu (Elijah) the Prophet will
arrive before the redemption in order to distance those who are close and to
bring close those who are far.

Many have tried to understand his intent and one explanation is that of Rabbi
Avraham Yissachar of Radomsk. He says that in current times our world is
close to falsehood and distant from truth. What does it mean that Eliyahu the
Prophet will bring close those who are far?

He will bring close to people the far-apart letters of "truth" and he will distance
from people the close letters of "falsehood," and the world will be one of total

TRUTH.

All rights reserved to Yoel & Orly Ganor