From Doing to Understanding: A Drash on Parshat Mishpatim

This week’s portion, Parashat Mishpatim, brings a cascade of laws and commandments that speak to the ethical core of our communal life—how we deal with property disputes, care for vulnerable individuals, and create a just society. But beneath the details, I find a key question emerging: How do we transmit these values, and what does it mean to pass along tradition? One striking phrase in the text is na’aseh v’nishma (“we will do and we will hear”), which suggests that action may sometimes come before complete understanding. In our era, that can sound unsettling. We’re used to wanting all the reasons up front. But Mishpatim hints that we don’t always learn by reasoning alone. We also learn by doing.

I often think about this in terms of “indoctrination”—a word that can raise eyebrows in today’s charged discourse. We tend to use “indoctrination” in such a charged way, as though it were about brainwashing. But at its root, indoctrination simply means “to teach” or “to introduce doctrine.” When it comes to Judaism, we teach our children (and sometimes new adult learners) to light Shabbat candles or sing the songs, even fall in love with the foods well before they fully grasp all the layers of meaning. We might introduce them to blessings, songs, and traditions so they taste the sweetness of Jewish life first. Later, as they grow, God willing they naturally seek out the why behind these rituals. So yes, there is a measure of “indoctrination,” but it’s driven by love, by a desire to pass on a heritage that has sustained our people through centuries. It’s about fostering connection so that understanding can flourish over time.

But here is the crucial balance that Mishpatim underscores: all these instructions are meant to shape just and compassionate behavior. If “indoctrination” ever veers into manipulation or silencing questions, it betrays the very spirit of Torah. Instead, Mishpatim envisions a community where laws protect the vulnerable and ensure communal responsibility. In my view, that’s a guiding principle: teaching our children and our peers must invite curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and honor individual dignity. We pass on the practices and structure so that new generations—or new members of our community—have a framework from which to explore deeper questions and find personal meaning.

Ultimately, Mishpatim tells us that holiness is found in how we live out everyday ethics. We can (and should) “indoctrinate” one another into kindness, gratitude, justice, and respect. The goal is not blind submission; it’s heartfelt participation in a tradition that has something profound to offer. When we learn to do—na’aseh—we open ourselves to the potential for deeper understanding—nishma. May this process guide us into ever-richer experiences of Torah, and may we continue to nurture a community where teaching and learning go hand in hand with compassion and integrity. Shabbat Shalom!