“Moshe heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.” (Ex. 18:24)
In this week’s parsha, Moshe’s father-in-law undertakes to join the Jewish nation, notwithstanding the great self-sacrifice associated therewith. Yisro is not on the scene all that long, and he’s already offering advice to Moshe Rabbeinu, the undisputed leader of the Jewish People and G-d’s “right-hand man,” so to speak, on how to “run the ship” more effectively.
Uh? Excuse me. Who are you again? A former Midyan priest who’s been Jewish all of 10 minutes. Chill your jets. Have a bagel. An extra rugelach. Maybe figure out how to get your tefillin on properly before offering your two shekels of constructive criticism.
That’s not Moshe’s response at all. More than that, the Chumash drives home the fact that Moshe’s willingness to entertain Yisro’s recommendation was not merely a matter of good manners that one would (and should) accord their father-in-law. To the contrary, since Moshe’s single-minded mission in life was to provide for his beloved flock, anything that could enhance that mission was worthy of serious investigation. There is no variable that is not negotiable. There is no genuine point of view that would not be considered.
Yes, I’m the long-awaited redeemer of a nation three million strong and have a direct line to G-d on my speed dial. Irrelevant. There isn’t a caste system. There is no pecking order. Pure meritocracy. You have a sincere desire to help my beloved nation. “Let me hear what you have to say; maybe you thought of an angle I didn’t consider.”
To the extent that we are serious about fulfilling our mission in life and our respective destinies on the planet, be mindful to leave your ears open and your antennae up for ideas, suggestions, constructive criticism, and feedback that may propel you closer to that goal. For one who can check their ego at the door, who knows what wisdom awaits, from even the most unlikely sources.
RABBI DANIEL COREN
