Parashat Mishpatim: Mishpatim vs. The Beatles

This week's reflection on Parashat Mishpatim, led by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, delves into the intricate relationship between law and love, contrasting the famous Beatles' assertion "All you need is love" with Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik's perspective that "Judaism is first a discipline and second a romance." Through the lens of art and biblical narrative, Rabbi Soloveichik explores how these two elements coexist and enhance one another. The depiction of a Jewish wedding by Jozef Israëls captures the duality of formal ceremony and intimate romance, paralleling the structure of the Sinai revelation where the intimate encounter with God is interspersed with the technicalities of law. This juxtaposition is not merely a disruption but a profound expression of the covenantal relationship, where love is sustained by duty and obligation.