Spark of Jewish Experience

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* Yitro was Moshe’s father-in-law as well as a former advisor to Pharaoh, who actually advised favorably on the subject of the Israelites. However, his advice was not taken well and he was forced to flee; He also was a high priest in Midyan.

* Many nations have seen and heard the miracles that G-d performed on the Jews in Egypt and at sea. However, Yitro comprehended what G-d has done. He was impressed to the point where it changed him and was ready to convert to Judaism.

* Moshe sends a message for Tziporah his wife to meet at a certain point in the desert. So Yitro arrived with Tziporah and Moshe’s two sons at the scheduled meeting place.

* A meal offering was initiated by Yitro commemorating his circumcision and his introduction to Judaism. We see many years later, the King of Israel, Shaul, warned the Canaanites, who were the descendants of Yitro to leave their residents within Amalek (enemies of the Jews) because war was imminent. The reason for such concern not to harm them stemmed from this meal celebration between Moshe, Aharon, Yitro, and other high-ranking officials. We see the power of a sit down meal celebration, for mitzvah sake, and how positive it can be where it has long lasting effects hundreds of years later.

Second Portion

* Yitro’s experience in pubic office where he had a high ranking position in Pharaoh’s super power government, enabled him to advise Moshe on how to be more proficient in his duties and basically make the system run better.

* There is a question as to why Moshe wasn’t able to derive the advice that Yitro gave from the Torah? We have to understand, although the Torah provides great wisdom; there will be on occasion an individual that can provide sound advice. G-d’s purposely teaching us it’s not the intellectual superiority that’s the main part, nor are we more cultural advanced then the other nations, but the focal point is the spiritual superiority.

Third Portion

* Moshe took the advice of his father-in-law.

* Yitro decided to return to Midyan.

* Why did Yitro decide to return to Midyan? Wouldn’t he feel more comfortable with his new comrades (his fellow circumcised Jews)? (See one of my shmoozim on the email newsletter). One should note, Ruth, the Midyanit convert, decided to go to Israel with her former mother-in-law rather then go back to her former home. It would be most difficult to maintain one’s religious level among people who do not have the same goals as you.

Fourth Portion

* The Israelites arrived at Sinai and Moshe went up to receive the Torah.

* G-d told Moshe to tell the people “If you keep my Torah, then I will hold you in great esteem.”

Fifth Portion

* Moshe came down from the mountain and told all which G-d is demanding of us. The elders, the leaders all answered back “We will do whatever G-d says.”

* Moshe gave instructions on the preparations to receive the Torah.

* The nation gathered at the bottom of the mountain.

Sixth Portion

* G-d’s aura had descended on the Israelites; it’s the closest the Jews have been to the presence of G-d.

* The first two commandments were recited by G-d. However, the people weren’t able to withstand the rays of G-d’s presence; Moshe then recited the last eight.

* The Ten Commandments are divided into five. The first five on the right are commandments between G-d and man; while the second five are commandments between man and his fellow man (see schmooze in this email newsletter).

Seventh Portion

* One cannot even imagine what a special moment in history this was. The scripture says they saw the voices.

* Only three Jews did not witness the revelation at Mount Sinai; Yitro and Moshe’s two sons. How can that be – Moshe sons? This was designed by G-d so Moshe can perform what every father and Rabbi is commanded, and that is to pass it down to the next generation. Apparently, almost the whole nation heard The Sinai experience, so there was no passing down for a while. But they observed the best teacher – Moshe taught his sons.

* Three million Jews witnessed the receiving of the Torah; no other religion has witnesses with this magnitude that have seen the revelation of their religion.

One should know and realize by looking at the tablets in which the Ten Commandments are placed on (and is found in every synagogue in the world), that one half represents man’s relationship with G-d while the other half represents man’s relationship with his fellow man. If one examines it closely however, one will notice “honoring your father and your mother” is placed in the wrong column – on the side that represents man’s relationship with G-d. Clearly, as far as I’m concerned, parents are humans and they belong on the other side of the tablets. Perhaps the designer thought it would look awkward having six and four placed on the Aron Kodseh (place where you keep the Torahs). Five and five look much better and even; it gives more presence to the Synagogue, especially the fancy shmancy ones.

We read in Psalms, which was written by King David; (Sefardim read it daily while the Ashkenazim recite it the month before Rosh Hashanah). “My father and mother have left me but I still have you, G-d”. We can deduce from the Psalm that King David relied heavily on G-d. We can also detect David missing his parents. But that’s kind of odd; before he was anointed King, there was a concern that he might have been illegitimate. Yishai, his father, wasn’t sure David was his son. At best, they had a cold relationship. Although one may argue that any doubt about the legitimacy of Yishai being David’s father was put to rest after the Prophet Shmuel anointed David, and a loving father and son relationship developed. However, David was on the run, whether being chased by King Shaul or whatever wars he fought. Furthermore, David’s parents and brothers (except for one) were massacred by the Moabites. So as far as David’s relationship with his father, what’s there that he missed so much that triggered him to make such a statement?

Any one of the readers who have had the experience of taking care of elderly parents realized that as long as they were alive, one felt the parent was taking care of them even though the opposite was true. The son or daughter paid all the bills and they would escort them to their medical appointments because they would not be able to go by themselves. In fact, my father once said when a person becomes old he reverts back to being a child. Even so, apparently as soon as they pass on, the children feel abandoned; they have an uneasy feeling of losing that nurturing parent.

Belief and trusting G-d requires one to fully rely on Him. How does one develop that ability? This is accomplished by practicing the concept of “leaning on and trusting” through the parents. They are there so we can really on them. They fed and clothed us and took us to school when we were young; they taught us about life. The college tuition was paid and they let us borrow the car. We look up to them until a certain time where then they pass the baton to G-d and we rely on Him fully. It may take twenty years or forty, but it’s inevitable.

This is the reason “honoring parents” is on the same side of man/G-d relationship. G-d and parents are part and parcel in bringing out in us the feeling of trust and having being taken care of and that the ultimate and optimal feeling one has to have to G-d.