VOLUME 109 NUMBER 5
Shevat 23, 5784
February 2, 2024
PARSHAS YISRO
Candlelighting Time 5:02 PM
In today’s world of inappropriate classifications, we sometimes are confused as to what is really what! As an example, would be what is really royalty and what does it mean? As we look eastward at the UK we will notice that people of truly no majestic quality parading as though they really are. And they usurp millions from the common folk who indeed work very hard as opposed to the king and queen who do nothing and yet are treated with tremendous respect and reverence. We do not buy into such inane ideas and only admire those who have earned our veneration and esteem. Rashi cites the Midrash that presently Yisro valuated his greatness because Moshe was his son-in-law while previously Moshe quantified his prominence due to his father-in-law. This evaluation requires some degree of clarification. After all, Moshe was now charged by Hashem with the mission to encounter Pharoah and demand the release of the people from slavery. He would be the messenger to facilitate the redemption of the nation from Egyptian bondage. Quite an opportunity and certainly a very important post that he would be filling. It was so important that he didn’t want to assume that responsibility, rather he wanted his brother Ahron to have that opportunity since he was older. Yet, Moshe accorded deference to a former idol worshipper who had consecrated every single idol that was in existence. Did Moshe really take pride in that?
Perhaps we need to examine this issue from the present to the past. Instead of viewing Yisro, a former abuser let us assess him in his present status. He was a world expert in every dimension of idol worship. Later in the parsha Rashi cites the Midrash that Yisro absconded his post as the primary leader of idol worship, a highly respectable position, to humbly approach Moshe to convert him and join the nation who had just left slavery and became liberated. Certainly, that was an incredible adjustment for such a renowned individual. However, cherishing and acknowledging the advancement that the nation had accomplished was so alluring, Yisro was unable to ignore such an extraordinary prospect.
Later in the parsha Moshe prepares the nation to receive the Torah. In doing so, he defines what their status would be. They would become a nation of royalty comparable to aristocrats and noblemen. This progression of their significance is purely on account of their recognition of the Torah as the ultimate word of Hashem that behooves one to adhere to it in every conceivable way. That is considered a majestic people deserving of a magnificent and dignified title. To serve Hashem and measure our success in life based upon that bar, is the ultimate description of accomplishment and pride.
With this backdrop it is distinctly clear how we must approach our appreciation of the achievement of Yisro. We were released from bondage and certainly it was logical to accept Hashem since our miraculous escape was engineered by Hashem. However, Yisro was not a slave in the physical sense, yet he selected to forsake his lucrative position and to join a nation of former slaves. Certainly, this would not seem to be an improvement for a person of his stature. However, the realization of what one’s purpose is and the prospect to achieve that goal propelled him to reach for the stars and become an individual of true royalty.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
When Moshe ascended to Heaven to receive the Torah the angels dismissed him stating that a flesh and blood creation cannot appreciate Torah. After all, his entire life encompasses the physical. Hashem told Moshe to respond and he did affirm that even though we may dwell in this corporal world, adhering to the Torah can elevate a person to very exalted levels of existence. CHOFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABBOS
WE MOURN THE ONGOING LOSSES OF THOSE DEFENDING OUR BRETHREN IN ERETZ YISROEL AND WE CONTINUE TO TRUST IN HASHEM THAT EVEN WHEN THE DARKNESS ENVELOPES US IT IS ONLY THE PRELUDE FOR GREATER DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL OCCUR. JUST AS THE DARKEST OF THE NIGHT IMMEDIATELY PRECEEDS THE BEGINNING OF THE MORNING SO TOO WE WILL YET SEE THE LIGHT DESCEND UPON OUR NATION.
