Thought of the Week- Parshas Yitro

This is one of the most remarkable Torah Portions in the entire Chumash! In this Portion it talks about the Jews receiving the 10 commandments and the Torah.

The Rebbe M. M. Schneersohn asked a very interesting question...
Why would the Torah portion that talks about the receiving of the Torah which is one of the most important portions in all of the Torah entirely be called after a man like Jethro? As it writes in regard to him that he was a Priest of Midyan. Rashi comments on this and says that there wasn't one type of religion that Jethro hadn't served. Only after he saw that all were false did he convert to Judaism. So how is it that a lofty man like Jethro could have the most important Parasha named after him rather than a saint like Moshe or Aharon.

A very interesting reply is then given!
Even though Jethro wasn't even by the giving of the ten commandments he still heard about it. He was amazed at how G-d took the Jews out of Egypt. He heard all the stories and miracles the Jews encountered in the desert and the like.This amazed him and he realised that no matter what idol he would serve, no matter what religion and belief he could follow, no idol and no belief would ever be able to do anything as powerful as G-d Himself. In fact, they are all stones and fake theories. G-d is the only One true being master of the universe and no other is like Him.This caused him to convert with all his heart.

However it is still not a valid reason as to why wasn't this portion named after a saint. We cannot forget that Moses was on the peak of the mountain, Aharon and the 70 Elders somewhere in the middle, and every one else at the foot of the mountain behind the fence surrounding it. As it is written that no one was allowed to touch the mountain or he would die except for Moses, Aharon and the 70 Elders.

This can be explained by a parable that Rabbi Y.Y. Schneersohn (the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe) brings.
There is a famous question. Why is it easier to immerse ones heel in hot water rather than ones head?

This is all explained through science and Kabbala.
There are 2 types of Soul powers.

• Intellect & emotion. These correspond to the internal and particular soul power.


• Desire and will. These correspond to the general and encompassing soul power.

The intellect is found in the brain, whereas the emotion is found in the heart. However the desire and will are everywhere in the body equally. This is why when the body wills or desires to go into the hot water the head right away says "wow be careful its dangerous!" with all his intellectual reasons as to why not to go in. However the heel which is the lowliest part of the body does it right away with out asking.
Same is true in the human nature. The more intellectual the person is, the harder it becomes to tell him what to do. However the lower laymen tell him to do something and doesn't need much reasoning he'll do it.

It turns out that the lower status people are, the more important they are. If they were to touch this extremely holy mountain they would get too emotional and die!
In reply to why the Parsha is named after such a low person so to speak a very nice parable given.
From what I heard from Rabbi Yona Metzger (chief Rabbi of Israel) if you were to have 2 three metered ropes tied to a pole. They are exactly the same legth and there is no difference between them. However if you were to cut one of them in the middle and then retie it in the place it was cut, it would no longer be the same size as the uncut one. In fact it would be shorter and closer to the pole. So too is in the religious world. Jews are tied to their creator via their souls. They are always connected to Him. If one sins however this connection is severed. However never will the souls connection to G-d will be lost. When one repents the cut is retied hence he is closer to G-d than he was before he severed the rope. Where as the one who never sinned stays the same always. However one must remember how important it is to G-d that one doesn't sin. If one sins intentionally, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Alter Rebbe first lubavitcher Rebber) explains in Tanya that this is considered as a rebel, one whome can never fix this blemish in his soul.

From this we can understand that whatever status you were born into, religious or not, or you somehow became misled and you sinned, it is from this that we can say don't worry, you're not forgotten. If you come back with your fullest heart promising never to go back to your old ways it is extremly precious in-front of G-d. Now imagine one that never was conected to G-d became a saint just like Moses or the like, how great would be his position.

This is the reason that the majority of times in this portion Jethro is reffered to as Moses Father-in-law. As Rashi comments, the Father-in-law of the king! In this portion it also says how Jethro advised Moses what to do regarding his judging the entire nation. Jethro advised him to make a high court and lower courts under it (exactly the way it is today.) Moses then asked what G-d thought of the advice and G-d agreed with Jethro!

Remember you can make a difference in the world simply Do Only Good!

©: thought of the week - Yermi Kurkus

Derived from the teachings of The Rebbe M.M. Schneersohn, Rebbe Y.Y. Scneershon, Alter Rebbe (Tanya)