And these are the ordinances that you shall place before them: (21:1)
In the time that Midas HaDin – Mishpotim (judgement), are prosecuting. It is upon you to awaken the Zechus Avos which preceded before you – Lifneihem.
Sefer Pninei HaTorah – Rav Yitzchok of Neshchiz ZY"A – Toldos Yitzchok
In the name of The Great Rebbe of Kotsk it is said; this is The Torah that I am giving to you. (Meaning to each person according to his Rotzon – desire, and Nigios - self orient).
ואלה המשפטים )כ"א א'(And these are the Laws... [21:1]
Reb Simcha Bunim of Parshischa explained as follows. It is incumbent on you to know the Mishpitei HaTorah (Laws of the Torah) come before “לכם" – your personal desires. Therefore, you are obligated to be מוסר נפש sacrifice yourself for their fulfillment.
Sefas Emes – Pninei HaTorah
And these are the ordinances that you shall place before them. (Shemos 21:1)
In the Talmud (Shabbos 31a), we are told: “When a man is brought before the Heavenly court for judgment, he is asked: ‘Did you conduct your business faithfully? Did you set aside times for the study of Torah?...” Note that he is first asked about his honesty in observing the משפטים and only then about his study of Torah. This helps us to understand the Midrash which says: “If you do not keep the דינים He will take His Torah away from you.” If the answer to the first question is negative, his entire study of Torah is worthless.
Kesav Sofer
I was once Zoche (merited) to hear from the Skulener Rebbe – Reb Yisroel Avrohom ZY”A, why does it say "ותורתך ודברך ישים על לבו" - on his heart - shouldn’t it say בלבו - in his heart? To this he answered that one must put the will of the תורה and מצוות of Hashem above and before his personal desires.
Chamor and the Yetzer Horah
When you see the donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with him. [21:5]
כי תראה חמור שונאך רובץ תחת משאו וגו'. פירוש, חמור נקרא הגוף, שונאך, הוא שם מושאל ליצר הרע, וזהו רובץ תחת משאו הן בחליו רחמנא ליצלן, הן בירידת פרנסה, או כל צרה שלא תבוא, עזוב תעזוב, ותעזור לו בתפילתך, וזה מכוון למה שדרשו חז"ל )בבא מציעא ל"ב א'( עמו דוקא, היינו שהוא גם כן יתפלל ויחזור בתשובה, לאפוקי כשהוא יושב ואינו פונה עצמו לה' יתברך, אז אתה גם כן פטור כשהוא אינו רוצה, וכאשר ראיתי מאדוני אבי זקני זללה"ה: )דגל מחנה אפרים בליקוטים לפרשת משפטים(: ספר בעל שם טוב פרשת משפטים אות ח'
...Chamor, is the Guf (body), Sonachoh (enemy) is a borrowed name for the Yetzer Horah (the evil inclination). That is "He is under his load". Referring to the load of sickness or lack of Parnossoh, or any hardship that should not come. "Ozov Tazov" and you should help with your Tefillos. This is referring to what Chazal say, (Bava Metzioh 32:1) with him specifically, one themselves should also Daven (pray) for himself and return in Teshuvoh (repentance). In contrast when the person sits and does not focus his Rotzon (determination) to Hashem, then others are not obligated to help him.
Sefer Baal Shem Tov
On Hitting Parents and Human Trafficking
He who strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death. He who kidnaps a man - whether he has sold him or is still holding him - shall be put to death. [21:15-16]
Even such a wicked child that hits his own parents, it is forbidden to steal and sell him. The Torah disgraces the selling of living people and human trafficking even on behalf of ejecting rebellious children.
Meshech Chochmoh - Der Torah Kvall
Shabbos and Healing
רק שבתו )כ"א י"ט(
The Tiferes Shlomo ZY”A explains this Possuk as such. The word ותבש has the word שבת in it. Therefore, it is to say, he who escalates the Shabbos and its special foods, will merit ורפא ירפא - he shall be healed.
ורפא ירפא )כ"א י"ט(
מכאן שנתנה רשות לרופא לרפאות )רש"י(
To one of the Great early Rebbes ZY”A came a cry about a sick person of whom the Doctors despaired and said that the person will not live. The Tzadik answered, “The Torah gave permission to cure, but not to despair on a person’s life. For that they do not have a right or permission”. On this the Kotzker ZY”A would say “יאוש שלא מדעת'' Despair comes since there is no knowledge...:
Der Torah Kval - The above (part one) is also written in the name of The great Chozeh of Lublin ZY”A
When my Great Grandmother בורשטין באבא ע"ה was a small child, she was not well. My עלטע עלטע זיידא Reb Avrohom Yosef Bartfeld Z”L who was an Antinia Chossid and lived in Nadvorna, went into the Rebbe Reb Uren Leib of Nadvorna ZY”A for a Brocha for his daughter my Elter Babboh [Great-grandmother] A”H . The Rebbe had some spoiled food left over from Shabbos Kodesh on his side. He gave it to the Zeida R’ Avrohom Yosef Z”L and instructed him, "גיי גיב פאר דיין טאכטער, זי וועט לעבן צוא זיין אן אלטע יאדינע". (Go, give it [the food] to your daughter, she will live to be an old Yiddineh). And so it was, the באבא שרה טויבא lived to a ripe old age, her mid-nineties.
