PARSHA & PROSE: MISHPATIM THROUGH THE LENS OF ’THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN’ WITH RABBI GEMARA (Audio/Visual)

The Torah portion of Mishpatim, which is focused on a collection of laws and ethical guidelines for social justice, finds a compelling parallel in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mishpatim offers laws that cover a wide range of societal interactions, from the treatment of slaves to property rights, showing an overarching concern for justice and moral behavior. In Huckleberry Finn, Huck's journey down the Mississippi River represents a moral quest where he grapples with the ethical teachings of society, especially in regard to slavery and his relationship with Jim, a runaway slave. Just as the laws in Mishpatim aim to create a fair and just society, Huck’s internal conflict and ultimate decision to help Jim escape slavery mirrors the Torah’s call for compassion and moral clarity, even when the prevailing societal norms encourage actions that contradict justice. Both the Torah portion and Huck's story ask profound questions about what it means to do what is right, even in the face of societal pressure or injustice.