Our morning study group has been learning Tractate Bava Kamma, which deals with the laws of damages — for example, the classic case: what happens if my ox gores your ox. While that may not seem very relevant today, the principles behind these laws are timeless. And of course, the tractate addresses much more than that. It explores countless situations in which a person damages another person, their property, or is harmed by them.

This week’s Torah reading, Parshas Mishpatim, is the primary source for many of these laws. It is easy to read these passages and think: “Interesting. Now I know when I have to pay for damages — or when I can claim compensation.”

Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz teaches that this is not the proper perspective. These laws are not merely technical guidelines for liability; they are lessons in caring for others. We learn to ask ourselves – How can I avoid causing harm? How can I ensure that neither I nor my possessions bring damage or pain to someone else? Through studying these laws, we learn to become more sensitive to other people’s needs and feelings.

The Chofetz Chaim would say that you can tell whether someone has truly learned Bava Kamma by observing a simple act: Will they close a window so the wind does not blow into someone else’s face? That is the real test.

A striking example of this sensitivity appears in the law of a thief who steals an ox or a sheep and then slaughters or sells it. In such a case, the Torah requires the thief to repay four times the value of the sheep and five times the value of the ox. The Talmud explains the difference: A sheep must be carried on the thief’s shoulders, which is degrading and embarrassing. Since the thief has already experienced this indignity, the Torah reduces his monetary penalty.

Hashem shows concern even for the feelings of a thief. How much more so should we be mindful of the feelings of upright people — our friends, our family, and everyone around us.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Shaps and the JET Team