Truth

The first three words that begin the creation of the world in Bereishis 1:1:

בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱ־לֹהִים

and the last three words that seal the creation of the world in Bereishis 2:3:

בָּרָא אֱ־לֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת

have special significance. When you take the last letters of each word in the first phrase,  the letters will spell, "אמת". Similarly, when you take the last letters of each word in the second phrase, the letters will also spell, "אמת".  What it means is that Hashem created the world with "אמת", truth, and He sealed it with "אמת", as well. The world cannot stand without truth. Hashem is upholding the world with truth. 

In Parashas Mishpatim, the Jews are given the mitzvah of "מִדְּבַר שֶׁקֶר תִּרְחָק" in Shemos 23:7. One can read it straightforwardly as "You shall distance yourself from a false matter". An alternative reading is to pause between "מִדְּבַר שֶׁקֶר" and "תִּרְחָק", which means you are distancing yourself from Hashem each time you engage in falsehood. Falsehood may apply itself to speaking lies, engaging in business or other matters dishonestly, speaking half truths, causing others to lie when we ask ambiguous questions, etc.

The world today is inundated with falsehood, every single day. Parashas Mishpatim reminds us that falsehood cannot be tolerated in the world that Hashem creates. Engaging in falsehood distances ourselves from the Source of Life.

For a more detailed treatment of this lesson, please view this video at LearnTorah.com.