The Entire Parshas Mishpatim Is a Lesson in Having Respect
The Ramban discusses the Kavod Hashem in the Mishkan, and he mentions Kavod 7 times. וּבְׁהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלוֹ אֹמֵר כָבוֹד In Hashem’s palace, there is total Kavod. כִּסֵא הַכָבוֹד Kisei HaKavod. וְׁיָבוֹא מֶׁלֶׁךְ הַכָבוֹד Let the Melech HaKavod enter. Respect is the Yesod of the whole universe, and without respect there is havoc and destruction. I once met an Arab in Australia who told me that without respect, there’s nothing doing. This was unique, because the whole problem with Hagar was that: וַתֵקַל גְׁבִּרְׁתָהּ בְׁעֵינֶׁיהָ she made light without respect! (The Mashgiach Zatzal said that before Moshiach the Arabs will do Teshuva).
At Matan Torah it says: וְׁאֶׁל אֲצִּילֵי בְׁנֵי יִּשְׁרָאֵל ל ֹא שָלַח יָדוֹ וַיֶׁחֱזוּ אֶׁת הָאֱלוֹקִּים וַי ֹאכְׁלוּ וַיִּשְׁתוּ Hashem did not punish the aristocrats of Bnei Yisroel, who were eating and drinking while beholding the Shechina. אֲצִּילִּים Aristocrats are Chashuva people, but they were Chayav Missa because they ate while beholding the Shechina. This was connected with the Ma'aseh Eigel, which was also a lack of respect and patience, and involved: קַלוּת ר ֹאש frivolity. This is a Treife concept of "let’s have a good time" and “chill”. Being “cool” can be a Churban.
The whole problem of Amalek is lack of respect. They disregard, and are chutzpadik to holiness, and: אֵין הַסֵּכִּא שָלֵם עַד שֶׁחֶׁמָיִּה שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל עַקלֵמָ Hashem’s Kisei (throne) is not complete until Amalek is destroyed completely. The Kisei (throne) means the dignity and respect for Kavod Shamayim. The entire Parshas Mishpatim is a lesson in respecting the rights of every human; no matter how weak and fragile.
And indeed, he is a Tzelem Elokim, and he deserves tremendous respect. Chazal say that the reason for the Churban was: שֶׁל ֹא בֵרְׁכוּ בַתּוֹרָה תְׁחִּלָה they didn’t say the Bracha before learning Torah, and the Ran explains that since they were not Machshiv their own Torah, therefore their Torah didn’t protect them from destruction.
Ba'kovod'ike people have a certain grace and calm and Menucha; they respect every moment of their lives.
