Mishpatim

 בסיד

Mishpatim

“A Life for a Life: an Eye for an Eye…”,

This Mishpat we’ve heard before,

But I never noted the context,

I neglected to explore.

Two fighting men collided with,

A woman who was pregnant,

As a result, she lost her life,

What should be the payment?

First, the Torah speaks in general,

“A Life for a Life”, we’re told,

But then adds the limiting details,

Before the posuk’s very old.

“From Clal to Prat”, says Rebbe Yishmael,

Since the limbs are specified,

“A Life for a Life” here means something else,

It’s the value of the one who died.