The namesake of this week's Torah portion is Jethro (in Hebrew"Yitro"), the father-in-law of Moses.
The portion opens with Jethro bringing his daughter (Moses' wife) and her two sons to join Moses in the desert after the Israelites exodus from Egypt. Moses relates all the wondrous things that have happened to the Israelites since their escape. Jethro responds by praising God and hosting a festive meal for Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite elders. Jethro observes Moses spending his days settling disputes among the Israelites and Jethro suggests that Moses share this burden and delegate chiefs to judge all but the most difficult cases.
Moses accepts this advice. Jethro departs and the next stage of the Israelite experience begins: Sinai.
On the third new moon after the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites enter the wilderness of Sinai and camp at the base of the mountain. Moses, speaking for God, informs the people that if they obey God's teachings, they will be for God, "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus19:6).
The Israelites agree and a nation is born. Three days later, in a cloud of smoke and fire, God appears to the people and proclaims the Ten Commandments. The Israelites frightened by this spectacle, appeal to Moses to intervene and to speak to God for them from that moment on. God instructs Moses to remind the people that they had heard God speak and thus must remember to never worship idols.
This Torah portion is only one of six named after an individual (Jetro) and the only one in Exodus thus named.
As we read the Ten Commandments to ourselves or listen to them chanted in synagogue on Shabbat we are transported back thousands of years to Mount Sinai. And just as Moses shared these awe inspired words with the Israelites so many generations ago, each new generation hears these hallowed words with new ears.
On this Shabbat Yitro we hope:
Like Moses, may a message of faith and truth always come from our lips.
May we be blessed, as Moses was, with the courage to lead others along good paths. May we be blessed, like Moses, with great wisdom and tremendous faith.
May we be like Aaron-and offer support to all those around us who may need our guidance and care. May we be like Aaron and speak for those who cannot .May we give voice to those whose words have been silenced by the despair of poverty, the anguish of homelessness, the weakness of illness or the cries of hunger.
May we be like Miriam and approach our daily blessings with dance in our souls and a new song on our lips.
Shabbat Shalom
Cantor Evan Kent