Our Parshah, MIshpatim, is a little like following a recipe. The parashah contains 53 of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah. The long list of directions and laws deals with violence, murder, damages, false testimony, bribery, returning lost property, the prohibition of eating milk and meat together, the laws of Shabbat and festival and many more!

When you only sort of follow these laws, like I only sort of followed the directions on the cake recipe, you may have a good life, just like I still got that cake. Yet, when we study and follow the mitzvot in a more careful manner, our lives become that much meaningful. God’s commandments connect us with a long and rich history of people living according to these same laws. Through their observance of the mitzvot, they became closer to God and so can we!

Our lives can be happy, full of family, friends and good experiences yet when we are not working to be closer to God, we are missing out. Judaism and God help connect us to each other, and ourselves.

Try to do one more mitzvah this week, whether it is putting down your smartphone for Shabbat and experiencing the time with family, lighting Shabbat candles or giving tzedaka. Do something and your life will be more like the delicious box of gooey brownies and less like the dense cake missing an ingredient!

Shabbat Shalom & happy baking!
Rabbi Metz