Thoughts on Parashat Yitro
(Exodus 18:1 – 20:23)
(Dvar Torah given on Friday, 1/21/2022)
This week’s Torah portion, Yitro, is named after the father-in-law of Moses. (The English equivalent is “Jethro”). The name “yitro” is related to the Hebrew word “yeter” --- meaning “excess” or “surplus” or “addition.” The traditional commentators say that this refers to the fact that Yitro’s advice to Moses was “added” to the Torah.
Specifically, what we read in Exodus, Chapter 18 is that Moses has been working himself to death judging every little legal dispute posed brought to him by the Israelites. Jethro advises Moses to find capable communal leaders to handle the smaller matters, freeing Moses up for the hard cases. Thus, Moses would be able to keep from burning out.
Good advice to be sure, and as we read on in the Torah portion, we’re relieved to learn that Moses has accepted that good advice. As it says in Exodus 18: 24-27 –
24 Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. 25 Moses chose capable individuals out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people — chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens; 26 and they judged the people at all times: the difficult matters they would bring to Moses, and all the minor matters they would decide themselves. 27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land.
That’s all well and good.
But where does the idea come from that this scene was “added” to the Torah? That comes from the view of various commentators that this chapter is out of chronological order. For how could Moses be judging legal disputes, and how could Jethro be advising Moses on how to delegate minor legal questions to other communal leaders, when the relevant laws were not yet given? All of this is going on in Exodus chapter 18, but the 10 Commandments are not given until Exodus chapter 20, and the various other “mishpatim” or “statutes” are not given until we get to next week’s Torah portion, aptly named Parashat Mishpatim.
And, again, we can ask, why would the Torah go out of its way to insert this story of Jethro out of chronological order?
I love the answer given by the 12th century bible commentator Ibn Ezra.
Ibn Ezra comments that the story is inserted here, at the very beginning of this week’s Torah portion, in order to form a contrast with the story that appeared at the very end of last week’s Torah portion.
And what was that story at the very end of last week’s Torah portion. It’s the account of the war against Amalek, concerning whom the very last words of last week’s Torah portion, Parashat Beshallach, are these words in Exodus 17:16 ---
מִלְחָמָ֥ה לַה' בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק מִדֹּ֖ר דֹּֽר׃
“Adonai will be at war with Amalek throughout the ages”
Do you recall who Amalek is?
Amalek is a non-Israelite who tries to kill all the Israelites, beginning with those who are weakest and least capable of fighting back (see Exodus 17: 8-16 and Deuteronomy 25: 17-19).
Jethro is also a non-Israelite! But he comes as a friend and supporter – indeed he comes as family.
And so, in the words of Ibn Ezra:
למה נכנסה פרשת יתרו במקום הזה.
“Why was Parshat Yitro inserted in this place?
בעבור שהזכיר למעלה הרעה שעשה עמלק לישראל
הזכיר כנגדו הטובה שעשה יתרו לישראל
Since [the Torah] recounted above the evil that Amalek did to Israel, here it contrasts to that the good that Jethro did to Israel.”[i]
This reminds us that we should never make false generalizations about others.
There remain plenty of Amaleks in the world, and we must be on guard against them. But there are also plenty of Jethros in the world --- and we must remain open and welcoming and appreciative of their sincere good will and helpful intentions.
Last Saturday afternoon and evening many of us were anxiously following the hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. A terrorist --- following in the footsteps of Amalek --- threatened to kill the hostages in the synagogue.
He was Muslim.
But, at the same time, the Jews of that congregation, as well as Jews around the world including here in Duluth, received the embracing support of other Muslims, who were following in the footsteps of Jethro.
It’s so important that we acknowledge that the evil deeds of one person are not reflective of the nature of an entire group.
Let me share with you the message of support I received early this week from Nik Hassan of the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports, and my response to him:
And, actually, Nik wrote to both me and to Temple Israel member Elyse Carter Vosen, who has been very active in promoting our interfaith connections with our local Muslim community:
Nik wrote:
Dear Rabbi David and Elyse,
The Muslim community here watched with horror at what happened to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. We are glad that no one was hurt other than the perpetrator of that terrorist act, committed during Sabbath services, of all times. It is extremely sad to know that a Muslim was involved, even though he did not represent in any way the teachings he may claim to hold. It becomes even more urgent for all of us to continue our efforts within our own communities to highlight the sanctity of our worship places and our lives.
Sincerely
On behalf of the ICTP Board and members
Duluth, MN
I was very touched by this message and so this is what I wrote him back (cc’ing Elyse):
Thank you, Nik. Your kind words mean so much to me. Of course, you didn't have to even say this for me to already know that you and the members of the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports already felt this way. I feel very blessed to be living in a place where our local Jewish and Muslim communities are so supportive of one another.
L'shalom,
David
And Elyse in turn sent this response to Nik and me:
Dear Nik,
Rabbi David expressed my thoughts and feelings so well. I agree wholeheartedly with all he said. I'm so grateful for the trusting and caring relationships between our communities, and that we can continue to work together for peace. Please share our gratitude and caring with the ICTP board and membership.
With great gratitude and respect,
Elyse
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In the wake of horrific incidents like what occurred in Texas last Shabbat, it’s important that we continue to remain openhearted, loving our neighbor, seeking peace where there is strife, and reflecting God’s love in all the ways we interact with others.
To be sure, we need to worry about security. We need to be mindful of the dangers that are out there. As you may already know, this week also marked the 80th anniversary of the Wansee Conference at which the Nazis bureaucratically codified their plans for the extermination of the Jews of Europe.
We need to be compassionate and understanding to ourselves in the wake of trauma, both the traumatic after effect of recent events, as well as in light of the intergenerational trauma that each of us, to a greater or lesser extent, lives with every day.
But, ultimately, we must not live in fear.
As that classic hymn Adon Olam reminds us in its closing words:
Adonai li velo ira: (“The Eternal is with Me, I shall not fear.”)
Shabbat shalom.
© Rabbi David Steinberg
January 2022/ Shevat 5782
[i] Ibn Ezra on Ex. 18:1
