Yitro Summaries
Yitro 5770-2010"The Arrival of Jethro"
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who was once the religious leader of Midian, leaves fame and fortune behind to cast his lot with the Jewish people and their G-d. Jethro, perhaps the first convert to Judaism, sets a high standard for future converts and returnees to Jewish observance. Link to full |
Yitro 5769-2009"Ambassadors Needed"
Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, recommends establishing a Judicial system that can work efficiently to reduce the burdens on Moses and the people. Jethro’s advice was not just about a judicial system. It was much more! Link to full |
Yitro 5768-2008"Welcoming Jethro, the Idolatrous Priest"
Why was Jethro, a former pagan idolater, welcomed so enthusiastically by Moses, Aaron and the people of Israel? It may very well have been in return for Jethro’s courageous renunciation of idolatry. Perhaps it was in return for Jethro’s exceptional acts of kindness that he performed for Moses, when Moses, claiming to be an Egyptian prince, arrived in Midian as a rather pathetic penniless refugee. Link to full |
Yitro 5767-2007"Will Our Children be Our Guarantors" |
Yitro 5766-2006"Sanctify Them, Today and Tomorrow"
In parashat Yitro we read of the Revelation at Sinai, and the special preparations the people had to make for the Revelation. G-d tells Moses to inform the people that they should be sanctified "today and tomorrow." Our commentators state that "today" may be easy to remain sanctified, but "tomorrow" is not always easy. This message applies not only to the generation of the revelation at Sinai, but to us as well. The tests that the ancients faced, are, in fact, the very same challenges that we today face in the 21st century. Link to full |
Yitro 5765-2005"Jethro's Advice to an Overburdened Leader"
Jethro warns his son-in-law, Moses, that he is in danger of burning out by biting off more than he can chew. It takes a great man like Moses to heed Jethroys difficult advice and share the leadership responsibilities with others. The well-being of the People of Israel was always Mosesys utmost concern, hence, his decision to delegate authority resulted in great benefit for the People of Israel. Link to full |
Yitro 5764-2004"Why G-d Can Not Share the Limelight"
G-d chose to speak directly to the People of Israel when He pronounced the first two statements of the Ten Commandments. These two directives set a path of exclusive monotheistic worship for the Jewish people. These words also created a foundation of moral absolutes in the world, as well as a demand for the ethical behavior expected of those created in G-d's image. Link to full |
Yitro 5763-2003 While we like to speak of “proof” of G-d’s existence, Judaism does not really encourage this course of intellectual exercise, simply because the “finite” human mind cannot possibly comprehend the “Infinite.” But while there may not be any “ultimate” proof of G-d’s existence, there are surely many many indications and abundant evidence. Indeed, a most persuasive case, from a variety of disciplines, can be made for G-d’s existence. |
Yitro 5762-2002 The Torah contains some very powerful subliminal messages that may not be articulated in the text, or written in the letters and the ink, but may be found instead in the white spaces. That is why there are many lessons to be learned from simply studying the structure of the Ten Commandments. |
Yitro 5761-2001 The tenth and final commandment of the Decalogue, the prohibition against covetous desires, seems to indicate that human beings can control their thoughts and their desires. Is that true? |
Yitro 5760-2000 3,300 years ago, when xenophobia reigned supreme throughout the ancient world, the Torah admonished Jews not to reject sage advice simply because it emanates from a non-Jewish source. In fact, Jews are encouraged to look for good and healthy ideas anywhere in the world, Jewish and secular, and embrace those ideas with open arms. |