Mishpatim Meets the Boardroom: Where Big Ideas Become Action

In conversations with people at every level and in all kinds of settings, I often meet sharp, insightful thinkers with impressive analytical abilities and a broad, deep view of the world.

And yet, when you look at their actual performance, you sometimes discover a striking gap between what they know and what they do. I often find myself wondering how someone with such intellectual strength ends up with such average results in practice. What gets lost on the way from understanding to action, and at what point does it fade?

From Insight to Action

Rabbi Yitzhak Arama, one of the great sages of Spain in the generation of the Expulsion, offers a powerful answer in his introduction to this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim.

In the previous portion, the people of Israel experienced an extraordinary divine revelation. Standing at the foot of Mount Sinai, they encountered the most expansive, elevated spiritual experience imaginable. They reached remarkable levels of understanding, and one might expect the next portion to continue with lofty philosophical ideas.

Instead, the Torah turns to Mishpatim: practical civil laws dealing with matters such as an ox that gores a cow, theft, and everyday disputes. At first glance, these details seem far removed from spiritual heights.

Why the Torah Turns Practical

Rabbi Yitzhak Arama explains that reality is precisely the opposite of what we might expect. The greatest expression of philosophy is its application. True wisdom lies in the ability to translate grand ideas into concrete actions and to make beliefs real in daily life.

The transition from Sinai to civil law teaches us not to allow a gap to form between values and behavior. Ideas are meant to be lived, not admired from a distance.

The Gap Between Vision and Execution

This gap is familiar in the business world as well. I have seen many entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey with brilliant visions and impressive plans. Yet somewhere along the way, the venture falters not because the idea is flawed, but because the ability to translate it into action is missing.

Often, success requires people who can accompany the work at different stages, whether as partners, advisors, or employees. They may not share the same experience or knowledge profile as the visionary, but they bring something just as critical.

To be wise and discerning like Joseph sometimes requires strong execution skills, often strengthened by a solid number two who complements the CEO. Vision alone is not enough.

Making Values Visible

Without execution strength and what might be called oil in the gears, an idea remains just that, an idea. An entrepreneur who assumes they only need a good concept and that someone else will take care of execution weakens the venture’s real chance of success. As a company grows, it is wise to bring in professionals, because dreaming and doing are not the same, and not everyone is equipped for both.

Ultimately, the most important task is to ensure that the values we believe in are expressed through our actions. That is how philosophy becomes part of daily life and how the bridge from ideas to reality is built within our own lives.

Ziv Elul is a serial entrepreneur, CEO of Pari, and author of the book Avot HaNihul.