| Michael Zaroovabeli says that Yitro was so great because on top of giving advice to Moshe that would help govern Bnei Yisroel, he also converted despite growing up surrounded by idolatry. He was so dedicated and God fearing that he even went through the circumcision process though he was older. What are other reasons that Yitro was so great and particularly special? |
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Yitro #1- Why Yitro?
Why was Yitro praised so much if all he did was think of a simple plan for Moshe to appoint a hierarchy of judges to assist him in governing and administering justice to the people? Anyone could have thought of that!
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Keren Yishai teaches why Yitro was so special based off Rashi’s interpretation of why Yitro went with the Jews. Rashi says it is because Yitro saw the splitting of the Yam Suf and the war the Jews had with Amalek. Keren Yishai asks about Rashi, why did Rashi not just say the pasukim which simply say that Yitro went with the Jews because he heard all Hashem did for Moshe and the Jews, why does Rashi use the specific explanation of the splitting of the Yam Suf and the war between Amalek and the Jews? Yishai answers it by saying it was how Yitro internalized the splitting of the Yam Suf that makes him so special. Both Yitro and Amalek heard about the splitting of the Yam Suf, but the difference in their reactions is what makes Yitro so special. Amalek heard this amazing thing that Hashem did and they tried to minimalize it, saying it can all be explained, it was not a real miracle. Amalek denied that Hashem had a part in the splitting of the sea, it was just the weather that caused it. Whereas Yitro also heard of the miracle and did not deny it, he internalized the splitting of the sea and took it to appreciate Hashem. The parsha then goes on to what the Jews heard at Har Senia and how they internalized it. Rashi includes specifically both the Yam Suf and Amalek in his answer to give a hint to how special Yitro was, that he could have been like Amalek and denied Hashem’s part in the splitting of the Yam Suf but instead he believed it was Hashem and took it in. What makes Yitro so special was his ability to hear the wonders of God and fully believe it, unlike others, such as Amalek who denied Hashem. Then the theme that Yitro created of hearing Hashem’s words and/or and absorbing it, continues in the parsha with the Jews hearing the commandments of Hashem and absorbing them.
ReplyDeleteArielle Samuel- According to Rashi, Yitro enjoys having the title of King Moshe's father-in-law. The Siftei Chachamim says that Yitro is introduced as the father-in-law of Moshe, which hints to the fact that Moshe is more well known. Yitro is famous for his close family relationship with Moshe. Therefore, Yitro is honored to be his father-in-law. In addition, Moshe is written about in terms of the son-in-law of Yitro. This shows that in different cases, Moshe or Yitro can be seen as the more well known person. Yitro was special because of his relationship with Moshe and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteThe Zohar teaches that the reason why Yitro is so important is that Beni Yisrael would only receive the torah, once Yitro joined them in the midbar. Also, Yitro has the huge honor of having a parsha named after him because his character teaches a huge lesson. Yitro, a believer in idols, concludes that, “God is greater than all other gods”. With this he ultimately crowns Hashem king over all aspects of life and Judiasm as the true religion. He teaches Beni Yisrael that Hashem is the one and only. The way Yitro, a true baal tshuva turns his previous lifestyle around and trusts only in Hashem, deserves having a remarkable parsha in Tanach named after him.
ReplyDeleteThe Ohr Chaim asks why would Yitro have a portion of the Torah mention him? yes he honored Moshe and was a servant of Hashem and deserved to be honored. Hashem wanted to demonstrate to the people of that generation Yitro's wisdom and by making Yitro's intelligence stand out it is proof that Hashem chose the Jewish people not because of intelligence but because he loved them, that's why wisdom is singled out about for describing someone from another nation. Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein explains that all honor derives from wisdom. befor ethe Torah was given, Yitro was brilliant and was the paragon of wisdom in the pagan world. Once "true wisdom" of the torah appeared on the scene - Yitro's wisdom could not possibly compare.
ReplyDeleteAnother question is why mention that Yitro was the preist of Midian? Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried explains that it is hard for a non-jew to convert to Judaism because they must be total sincere. Yitro enjoyed high social status and he was privileged. he ;lacked nothing and certainly would not have been motivated to convert for personal gain. His Sincerity was therefore beyond question and he was accepted as a convert.
Shabbat Shalom!
Dina Wagner:
ReplyDeleteRabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair comments that Yitro is unique. He says that Yitro noticed that Moshe was the only judicial authority for the entire Jewish nation, and therefore, Yitro suggests that secondary judges be selected to resolve smaller problems. This would leave Moshe free to attend to larger issues. This is interesting because Yitro was new to the group, yet he noted something that no one else thought to bring up. In the end Moshe accepts his advice.
The Baal Haturim speaks about Yitro and sheds light on what made him so special. The gematria of Yitro (616) translates to him "being a priest of false gods" or in hebrew, ''Komer Haya La'avoda Zarah" but is also equal to HaTorah/the Torah. We know at first he was a well respected priest who was very invested in his religion. That is why it makes it so miraculous that he later came to convert and to fully accept the Torah.Yitro is so special because he seamlessly went from one extreme to another. He went from not only worshipping idols but advocating it to his whole tribe, to realizing HaShem is the true God and following the torah. This made Yitro a role model in Jewish history and is what continues to make him a role model today.
ReplyDeleteThe Arizal says that Yitro had the soul of Kayin (Adam and chavas son) in him. When hevel and kayin gave korbanot and hashem did not accept kayins korban but he did accept hevels, kayin said that there is no true judge or judgment. Therefore kayins soul needed rectification. According to this midrash, Moshe had the soul of hevel. So the close connection btw Moshe and yitro helped better the soul of kayin. Yitro was kayins "second chance".
ReplyDeleteIn Perek Yud Chet Pasuk Yud Zayin it says that Yitro said to moshe. Although, it doesnt say it in those words. Rather it calls Yitro by the words of "Moshe's father in law". Now why couldn't it just say, "Yitro said to Moshe". Rashi says that this was out of respect and honor for Yitro. Since Moshe was such a noble and admirable man, Yitro was refered to as a noble and admirable man too-- through Moshe. Rashi then adds that the pasuk refers to him as "king's father in law" to make him on an even HIGHER level if possible.
ReplyDeleteThe Zohar says that the Torah could only be given to B’nai Israel once Yitro had joined them in the desert. There are other commentaries that site that after his years of idol worship, he heard about God’s wonders and decided to follow in the path of his son-in-law. It is this transformation that we should all aspire to achieve.
ReplyDeleteRashi answers the question of why Yitro is featured so prominently in this weeks Parsha. He thinks back and finds the reason as to why Yitro came to Moshe in the first place. What compelled Yitro to come: was it the splitting of the sea, or the war against Amalek. The land and the sea represent different things. They show the type of connection a person has with himself and with Hashem. Rashi explains, that Yitro notices both types of connection and spirituality and wants to join and be a be a part of this wonderful nation.
ReplyDelete