Shabbat Shalom Weekly
Torah Portion: Yitro
Only United Can We Fulfill the Torah
by Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twerski (z”l)
And they encamped in the Wilderness and Israel encamped there, opposite the mountain [Sinai] #(19:2)
As we have seen, the narration that precedes the giving of the Torah is more than just historical. It indicates the prerequisites of Torah.
Rashi points out that the Hebrew word for encamped is vayichan, he camped, rather than vayachanu, they camped. Furthermore, the Ten Commandments were also spoken in the singular, Anochi Hashem Elokecha, your God in the singular, rather than the plural elokeichem. The singular form of the verb is utilized because there was such complete unity among the Israelites that they were like one person, hence the entire nation could be addressed in the singular.
The Torah was given to each individual, and every person is required to fulfill the 613 mitzvot. It is obvious that technically this is impossible. There are some mitzvot whose performance is restricted to Kohanim (priests), which Yisrael cannot perform. A person whose firstborn child is a girl cannot fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn son). Mitzvot that apply to judges do not apply to lay people. How can any single person fulfill all 613 mitzvot?
Torah scholars have provided the answer. When a person puts on the tefillin (phylacteries) on his arm and head, it is not just the arm and head that have the mitzvah, but the whole person. Similarly, when people are united, they are as one, and a mitzvah performed by one person is shared by those with whom one is united.
How tragic that we have allowed ourselves to be divisive. Fragmentation not only weakens our nation, but deprives a person of acquiring the merit of those mitzvot which he is unable to perform.
Every human trait may have positive applications, even something as repulsive as selfishness. We should realize that eliminating the divisiveness that reigns among us is not merely altruistic. It is of inestimable personal benefit.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Rabbi Avraham Twerski, who passed away Sunday, Jan 31, 18 of Shevat. May his soul be bound in the bonds of life.
Dual Loyalty
by Rabbi Ari Kahn
Hearing of the wonders that had transpired, Yitro, Moshe’s father in law, arrives in the Israelite encampment in the desert. He is genuinely happy to hear of the wondrous events that had brought about the Israelites’ reversal of fortune, transforming them from lowly slaves into free people. Yitro joins Moshe, Aharon and the elders in a thanksgiving feast.
When the celebration ends, Yitro observes Moshe and is struck by his son-in-law’s enormous workload. Yitro, the leader (“kohen”) of Midian,[1] knew something about leadership and public service. He knew that Moshe could very quickly be overwhelmed and “burned out” by the enormity of the responsibility. This over-extension strikes Yitro as a terrible strategy, and he suggests a system in which the burden may be divided and, whenever possible, delegated.
The wisdom of Yitro’s suggestion is immediately apparent, and his proposal is incorporated into the Israelite camp’s basic structure.
As an aside, we might pause to appreciate the irony of the situation: Moshe and Yitro would never have met had Moshe not fled Egypt — and his escape was precipitated by a very pointed question hurled at him accusingly: “Who appointed you judge over us?” Upon seeing two Jews struggling, Moshe jumped into the fray — only to be accused of overstepping his authority. Now, Moshe had become the authority, the sole arbiter of justice, the judge for all Israel.
“You are going to wear yourself out, along with this nation that is with you. Your responsibility is too great. You cannot do it all alone. Now, listen to me; I will advise you, and God will be with you. You must be God’s representative for the people, and bring [their] concerns to God. (Shmot 18:18-19)”Moshe has a dual role: He is both God’s representative and the people’s representative, and it may be this dual role that explains why the story of Yitro’s arrival is inserted at this particular juncture.According to tradition, Yitro arrived in the Israelite camp months later — after Yom Kippur, in the fall — whereas the following portion, the Revelation at Sinai and all the events described in the next several chapters, transpired in the spring.[2] Ostensibly, the reason Yitro’s arrival is recounted at this point is because it is, in a sense, the continuation of the Exodus and the splitting of the sea: The report of the great miracles and triumphs the Israelites had experienced had reached Yitro in Moav, spurring him to visit and pay his respects.
However, there may be a deeper, more substantive reason to insert Yitro’s visit at this point. Yitro apparently had a uniquely clear grasp of the nature of Moshe’s role. Having himself served in a position of leadership, Yitro was able to see the day-to-day operation of the Israelite camp from a more removed perspective, akin to that of a systems analyst or organizational consultant. The judicial structure Yitro suggests is predicated on his very discerning and insightful understanding of Moshe’s essential role. And what more important juncture to clarify Moshe’s dual role, as God’s representative to the people and the people’s representative to God, than on the eve of the Revelation at Sinai? Indeed, in the events that immediately follow Yitro’s arrival (Chapter 19), in Moshe’s most celebrated role, he brings the Word of God down to the People, and represents the frightened, awe-struck nation when they are afraid to hear the Word of God. Moshe is far more than an ambassador, representing one side of the dialogue; he faithfully represents both sides, with both precision and compassion. It is this role that continues until the end of Moshe’s life.
In the story of the Exodus, Moshe’s role had been secondary; God spoke through him, Aharon spoke for him – even his own “magical” staff took a more prominent role in the plagues and miracles. But at Sinai, Moshe’s role becomes perfectly clear. Moshe is far more than a judge, far more than a neutral messenger of God’s instructions. From this point on, Moshe is both the “Servant of God” (a description that eventually becomes his epitaph[3]), bringing the Torah down from heaven, and, at the same time, the defender, protector, representative and teacher of the Jewish People. At Sinai, Moshe becomes, for all time, Moshe Rabbenu – Moshe, our teacher, leader, and master. Yitro was the first to identify Moshe’s dual role, and the first to give it practical expression, in preparation for the events that would soon unfold.
For a more in-depth analysis see: http://arikahn.blogspot.co.il/2016/01/audio-and-essays-parashat-yitro.html
NOTES:
1. See Rashi and Unkelos, Shmot 2:16.
2. Rashi, Shmot 18:13.
3. Dvarim 34:5.
Dignified Inside and Out
by Nesanel Yoel Safran
The way we act and dress says a lot about who we are. This week’s Torah portion (Ex. 20:23) instructs the Jewish Cohanim/priests to be sure to dress and walk modestly in the holy tabernacle to show it respect. So, too, when we dress and behave in a modest, dignified way, we show that we respect others — and ourselves.
In our story, two girls learn what it means to be dignified.
Jill heard a knock at her front door. She opened it to see her friend, Debby, dressed in her best suit, carry-bag in hand.
“Hi,” Jill said.
“Hi there to you, too,” Debby said, looking at her watch. “Did you forget what today is?”
“What do you mean?” Jill asked.
“That it’s our graduation banquet today?”
“Of course I didn’t forget,” Jill smiled. “How could I ever possibly forget I day I’ve been looking forward to for three years?!”
“But we’re going to be late. It’s going to be starting really soon.”
“So let’s go,” Jill said.
“But it’s going to take a long time for you to get dressed.” Debby said.
“I am dressed,” Jill said, stepping toward the door.
Debby looked at her friend’s attire and frowned. “Um, don’t you think that’s a little too, um … casual, for something like this? Don’t you want to wear something a bit more, uh … dignified?”
Jill waved her off with an annoyed flash of her hand. “What difference does it make how someone’s dressed? A person is a person — right? So let’s go.”
The two friends went to the school banquet. After a scrumptious, five-course meal and awards presentations, the whole graduating class went over to the school auditorium, for a special professional circus entertainment program.
“Hey, this is pretty cool, don’t you think?” Debby said, watching the colorful clowns, jugglers and animal acts.
“Sure,” Jill said. “But one thing bothers me.”
“What’s that?”
“I really did not like that trained-dog act that just left the stage.”
“Why not?” Debby asked. “It was hilarious!”
“I don’t know. They way they dressed the dogs in those silly costumes…”
“But, that was the funniest part.”
“In a way it was sort of funny,” Jill said. “But in a way it was … really not right. The clothes they were wearing kind of made the dogs look stupid. You know, not…”
“Dignified?” Debby asked.
“Exactly!” Jill said. “Hey why are you grinning like that?” she asked Debby.
“But what difference does it make how they’re dressed? A dog is a dog – right?”
“Yeah, but … hey wait a minute. I know what you’re trying to say, but you can’t compare it to how people dress.”
“Why not?”
“Because dogs can’t choose whether or not to look dignified — people can,” Jill said.
“Exactly!” Debby laughed.
“Yeah … well…” Jill was about to argue, but then decided to join in laughing, instead. “Um, Debby, that nice sweater you have folded on your lap…” she said “Do you think maybe I can borrow it and put it on?”
Discussion Questions
Ages 3-5
Q. How did Jill feel at first about how she was dressed for the graduation ceremony?
A. She thought it didn’t matter however she was dressed.
Q. How did she feel in the end?
A. She felt like she should dress in a dignified way.
Ages 6-9
Q. What life-lesson do you think someone could learn from this story?
A. We’re not always aware that how we present ourselves makes a statement about who we feel we are. Someone who acts and dresses in a dignified way is saying he cares about himself and takes himself seriously.
Q. What life-lesson do you think someone could learn from this story?
A. We’re not always aware that how we present ourselves makes a statement about who we feel we are. Someone who acts and dresses in a dignified way is saying he cares about himself and takes himself seriously.
Ages 10 and Up
Q. What does it mean to be ‘dignified?’
A. It means to have a sense of self-worth and appropriate self-esteem.
Q. What does our external appearance and behavior have to do with that?
A. While a person’s true dignity is something internal, someone with dignity would never choose to portray himself – through dress or behavior – in a way that cheapens him in the eyes of others.
Quote of the Week
“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent”
– Rabbi A.Y. Kook
Joke of the Week
When eight year old Rivka visits her Bubbie, she loves to watch her in the kitchen. “Bubbie,” Rivka asked one day, “where did you learn how to cook?”
Bubbie told her that she learned from her mother and passed on this knowledge to her daughter. “Someday,” Bubbie continued, “your mother will pass this knowledge along to you.”
There was a short silence. “I’m not so sure,” Rivka said. “Mommy puts everything in the microwave. I think I’ll be better off if I stay here and watch you.”
Shabbat Shalom!!
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