17/02/01 Yitro

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last updated
13 February 2001

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The weekly Torah portions form previous weeks are available here

The Weekly Torah Portion:
Shabbat 17 February
Yitro (Exodus Chapters 14-18)

Rabbi Davis gives his commentary and insight
on this week's Sedra

Summary:

Ask the Rabbi
Rabbi Davis answers your questions - CLICK HERE

This portion is named after Moses' father-in-law Yitro (Jethro). Yitro came to Moses just before the giving of the Torah, according to many authorities. We recall that Moses had married Zipporah, the daughter of the Midianite priest Yitro, during the period of his absence from Egypt. When Moses returned to Egypt to demand the Israelites' freedom, he had left Zipporah and their sons with Yitro in Midian. The Torah informs us that Yitro, having heard that Hashem had taken the Israelites out of Egypt, decided that the time was ripe to reunite Moses with his family.

Moses related all that had happened to his father-in-law, whom it seems was the first person in history to use the term 'Baruch Hashem' (Blessed is G-d), on hearing a piece of good news.

The following day, Yitro saw that Moses spent the entire day dealing with disputes and matters of law brought to him by the people. Yitro warned his son-in-law that he had taken on an excessive burden, which was not good for him or the people. He advised Moses to set up a legal system, whereby there would be a hierarchy of judges. The more difficult cases would go to the more senior judges, leaving Moses to deal with the most difficult. This system was adopted.

The second part of the portion sees the commencement of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, with the Ten Commandments.

Point to Ponder - 3 questions:

1. What is the connecting theme of Yitro to the Giving of the Torah?

Answers:
a) The legal system that Yitro helped to establish reminds us that a proper system of justice is fundamental to any civilised society, and is a prerequisite for proper Torah observance.

b) Yitro, a non-Jew, embraced the Torah and was welcomed. We learn from this that we welcome any sincere converts.

2. Why does the first commandment start with the words: "I am the L-rd your G-d, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt," etc. Why not "I am the L-rd your G-d, Who created Heaven and Earth"? Surely the latter is even more impressive?

Answer:
That generation had actually witnessed the Exodus, with all its miracles. It was therefore most appropriate that this should be the starting point of the covenant with G-d, not open to question. This was, of course, unlike the Creation, which no human had witnessed.

3. There is only one ritual in the Ten Commandments, Shabbat. Why Shabbat, and not for example Yom Kippur, which many of us would view as more holy?

Answer:
Notwithstanding the answer to question two, our belief in G-d as Creator is fundamental to Jewish belief. By observing Shabbat and abstaining from work, we testify to G-d as Creator.

Welcome What's New Service Times Mazel Tov's Young People Future Events Learning Judaism Social/Cultural Organisations Plan a Simcha Photo Gallery Feedback Contacts Web Links last updated 13 February 2001 Back to top

	The weekly Torah portions form previous weeks are available here
	The Weekly Torah Portion: Shabbat 17 February Yitro (Exodus Chapters 14-18) Rabbi Davis gives his commentary and insight on this week's Sedra Summary:
		Ask the Rabbi Rabbi Davis answers your questions - CLICK HERE

	This portion is named after Moses' father-in-law Yitro (Jethro). Yitro came to Moses just before the giving of the Torah, according to many authorities. We recall that Moses had married Zipporah, the daughter of the Midianite priest Yitro, during the period of his absence from Egypt. When Moses returned to Egypt to demand the Israelites' freedom, he had left Zipporah and their sons with Yitro in Midian. The Torah informs us that Yitro, having heard that Hashem had taken the Israelites out of Egypt, decided that the time was ripe to reunite Moses with his family. Moses related all that had happened to his father-in-law, whom it seems was the first person in history to use the term 'Baruch Hashem' (Blessed is G-d), on hearing a piece of good news. The following day, Yitro saw that Moses spent the entire day dealing with disputes and matters of law brought to him by the people. Yitro warned his son-in-law that he had taken on an excessive burden, which was not good for him or the people. He advised Moses to set up a legal system, whereby there would be a hierarchy of judges. The more difficult cases would go to the more senior judges, leaving Moses to deal with the most difficult. This system was adopted. The second part of the portion sees the commencement of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, with the Ten Commandments. *Point to Ponder -* 3 questions: 1. What is the connecting theme of Yitro to the Giving of the Torah? *Answers: a) The legal system that Yitro helped to establish reminds us that a proper system of justice is fundamental to any civilised society, and is a prerequisite for proper Torah observance. b) Yitro, a non-Jew, embraced the Torah and was welcomed. We learn from this that we welcome any sincere converts. 2. Why does the first commandment start with the words: "I am the L-rd your G-d, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt," etc. Why not "I am the L-rd your G-d, Who created Heaven and Earth"?* Surely the latter is even more impressive? *Answer: That generation had actually witnessed the Exodus, with all its miracles. It was therefore most appropriate that this should be the starting point of the covenant with G-d, not open to question. This was, of course, unlike the Creation, which no human had witnessed. 3. There is only one ritual in the Ten Commandments, Shabbat. Why Shabbat, and not for example Yom Kippur, which many of us would view as more holy?* *Answer*: Notwithstanding the answer to question two, our belief in G-d as Creator is fundamental to Jewish belief. By observing Shabbat and abstaining from work, we testify to G-d as Creator.