Parshas Mishpatim: Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsch - Dignity Is The First Rule
Parshas Mishpatim discusses laws Bein Adam L'Chaveiro, between man and man. These govern many important and significant day-to-day occurrences in commerce and in relationships with those around us. Why is the seemingly less common and less significant mitzvah of the Jewish slave chosen as the first of the laws between man and man?
Rav Shimshon Refoel Hirsch explains, the Jewish slave actually sets the tone for all of the laws between man and man. The underlying theme of these laws is, all people are created in Hashem's image and must be treated accordingly. The Jewish slave is a thief who could not afford to pay back what he stole. The Torah teaches, even the thief must be treated with respect and dignity. From that the tone is certainly set regarding how we must treat the upstanding members of society.
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