Throughout Parshas Mishpatim, the Torah discusses the obligation people have to pay, to make whole, and to make restitution for what they have done to others.
It doesn't discuss what a victim is entitled to, how much people can exact as payment, or focus on how much damage they have suffered.
I believe it’s because our role as Jews is to focus on our obligations to others, and not on their obligations to us. It’s about concentrating on what we give, not what we get.
If we want to be happy and whole, our focus must be on making others whole. The rest is up to Hashem - and He is more than up to the task.
Respecting Judges and Leaders
“Do not revile a judge, nor a leader in your nation shall you curse.” (Shmos 22:27)
This verse warns us that we shall not badmouth a judge nor a king. The word used here for judge alludes to Hashem as well, Who we know sits with judges in judgment. What about cursing other people, is that OK? No, it is not.
In Parshas Kedoshim (Vayikra 19:14) we will read the posuk, “Do not curse the deaf man nor place a stumbling block before the blind...” There we learn that [even though the deaf man cannot hear you curse him, and you may think no harm is done,] just as he is alive and you are prohibited to curse him, so may we not curse anyone who is alive. (Cursing the dead is not a prohibition.)
If that is the case, why do we need to speak of not cursing a judge or king? They already have a prohibition to curse them simply because they exist! The Torah apparently felt they needed an extra prohibition, above and beyond that of the issue with cursing anyone, and it makes perfect sense if we think about it.
True, we should not curse anyone. It’s not a nice thing to do. But what if they deserve it? The judge ruled against me. I think he was unfair. The king passed a law that harms me. Perhaps in these scenarios, it would be permitted to express our feelings and curse them.
The Torah tells us, no; it is wrong. Not merely because it’s not nice or refined to do, but because our perspective on wanting to curse them is wrong! We are angry with the judge or ruler because they’ve “done something to us,” but we miss the point that they’ve really done something FOR us.
This is alluded to by the use of the word ‘elohim’ (mundane usage) for judges. This also refers to Elokim (holy usage), meaning that Hashem is involved in each judgment. Onkelos renders the word t’kallel not as “curse,” but not to lose or lessen your respect for the judge or his Partner, the Al-mighty, (from the word kal meaning “light.”)
The laws of the Torah were created by Hashem to guide our lives and if they say one must give a lender his only blanket, it’s not cruel or unusual punishment. It is perfection in its essence. If someone loses a court case, he has not been wronged, but has been saved from wronging another.
To lose respect for a judge or leader to the point where we might curse them, reveals a lack of appreciation and understanding on our part. Therefore, the Torah had to establish an additional prohibition to help us see beyond our own personal biases, to find the truth.
