In Parshat Mishpatim, the Torah presents us with a profound duality regarding healing. On one hand, we read in Exodus 21:18–19 that when a person is injured, not only must the perpetrator compensate for the loss of work and the cost of a doctor’s
care, but the verse concludes with the phrase “וְרַפֹּ֥א יְרַפֵּֽא” (“and he shall heal”).  

Two weeks ago we read in BeShalach 15:26, Hashem Himself declares,   “כי אני ה’
רופאך” 

  “For I am Hashem, your Healer.” (Its interesting that we end the Aliyah in each Perasha with those words)   

These two declarations are not redundant; they reveal two distinct modalities of healing. The Torah grants human physicians’ explicit permission to heal, while at the same time assuring us that ultimate, complete healing comes only from Hashem. In today’s
class we will explore these themes in depth. We will consider the subtle linguistic nuances—such as the difference between dotted and undotted letters in the Hebrew word for healing—and examine the mystical significance of the 27 letters of our holy alphabet. We will also incorporate the visionary insights of Rav Kook regarding human effort, Divine mercy, and the central role of Shabbat in restoring the cosmic order.