Yitro

Hi,

This week's portion is Yitro.

The Torah portion of Yitro begins as the Jews travel through in the desert, after Amalek’s surprise attack on them. Yitro (aka Jethro), Moshe’s father-in-law, comes to see them; he is inspired by Gd’s miracles. We are taught that Yitro was particularly inspired by Gd’s interest in human actions, as seen in the way His reward and punishment matched the Egyptians' actions.

Moshe went out to greet Yitro himself, modeling the way we should greet guests. Yitro stayed and observed the operation of the Jewish camp, and he advised Moshe to arrange a heirarchy of assistant judges to help him. Moshe followed Yitro’s instructions.

The Jews arrived at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai) in the beginning of the month of Sivan, and they prepared to accept Judaism and receive the Torah. The men and women immersed in water, partly as a function of conversion and partly for the purpose of ritual purification. Spouses stayed apart for three days, leading up to the presentation of the Torah.

On the 7th day of Sivan (or, according to some, the 6th), the nation awakened to thunder and lightning and the sound of the Shofar. The earth itself shook, and Mount Sinai produced smoke. The Jews came out to Sinai, and heard the "Aseret haDibrot," the Ten Commandments.

Following this spectacle, Gd told Moshe to warn the Jews not to create idols. Gd pointed out that the whole sound and light show at Har Sinai didn’t involve any image of Gd, and so they should not create images of Gd. Gd then instructed the Jews in the way they should build an altar for Him, noting such laws as the prohibition against cutting the stones in situ with iron, and against using steps for the altar.

Have a great day,
Mordechai