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Why did Eisav and Yishmael reject Torah (תורה) law when they already accepted Noahide prohibitions against murder and theft? The shiur develops the insight that Torah law begins with recognizing others' rights, while secular law focuses only on my restrictions. This rights-based perspective transforms how we approach all relationships and obligations.
The shiur begins by addressing the classic question of why Eisav and Yishmael rejected the Torah (תורה) based on "thou shall not kill" and "thou shall not steal" when these prohibitions already existed under Noahide law. The speaker suggests that the fundamental difference lies in perspective: Noahide law focuses on what I am prohibited from doing, while Torah law begins with recognizing the other person's rights. The discussion centers on a question from the Pnei Ach Raza regarding the obligation to lend money to Jews without interest (kesef talveh ami). If we already know from the laws of neveilah that we must give preference to a ger toshav over doing business with a regular gentile, why do we need a separate verse teaching preference for Jews in lending?
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Parshas Mishpatim - kesef talveh ami
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