Parsha Pizzazz - Yitro
A Surprise Visit
Moshe and the Jewish people were camping in the middle of the desert, living on miraculous food, the mon, and enjoying the protection of the miraculous Clouds of Glory that surrounded them.
A while before, when Moshe went down to Egypt to try to convince Paraoh to free the Jews, he had left his wife, Tzipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, safely behind in their hometown of Midyan. They lived with Tzipporah's father, Yitro, the bishop of Midyan.
Now that the whole saga with Paraoh was history, it was time for Moshe to reunite with his family.
But Moshe was in for a pleasant surprise. His father-in-law had heard about the incredible miracles HaShem had done for the Jewish people - namely, splitting the Red Sea and the Jews' victory in the war against Amalek - and boy, was he impressed! Yitro was so impressed, in fact, and so deeply affected by his newfound understanding of HaShem's power, that he decided to become a Jew himself! Quite a turnaround for a bishop!
Yitro traveled with Tzipporah and her sons to meet Moshe, who he was camped out in the desert. Moshe came out personally to greet and kiss his father-in-law. Aharon and his sons, Nadav and Avihu, followed Moshe, figuring that anyone whom Moshe would go out to see must be pretty special! And, of course, when the rest of the people saw their leaders heading for the edge of camp, they tagged along, too. And so the entire Jewish people welcomed Yitro, Tzipporah, and the boys!
Moshe told Yitro all the details of how the Jews had suffered in Egypt and of the great miracles that HaShem had done for them when they went out of Egypt.
Yitro exclaimed, "Baruch HaShem! Blessed is G-d! It's just amazing! He has rescued 600,000 Jewish people from Paraoh - when not long ago, it was impossible for even one single slave to escape. I believe that HaShem is the true G-d! And believe me, I know what I'm talking about. I've tried out every religion in the world looking for the truth - but all the rest are false. I know now that I must become a Jew."
Yitro then converted to Judaism, and Moshe arranged a festive meal in his honor. All of the zekainim (elders) attended and enjoyed the feast, while Moshe humbly served everyone food. (And where did Moshe learn to be such a giving and humble host? From Avraham Avinu! Remember how generously he served the three visitors who came by his tent on that hot day - way back in Parshat Lech Lecha?)
Advice From the In-Law
The next day, as usual, Moshe sat at the head of an endless crowd of people, all waiting to ask him questions. For hours and hours, Moshe helped each person with problems that needed to be solved or arguments that needed to be mediated. Moshe explained HaShem's laws to the people. He was one busy man! And the same scene happened every day.
"That's the problem," Yitro said to Moshe after observing how things were going. "It's just too much work for one man. You need some help! If you go on like this, you're going to wear yourself out. Besides, it's not right to keep people standing and waiting for hours to see you. Take my advice. Choose an entire staff of smart, G-d-fearing people and train them to be judges. Let them handle the small cases, and send only big cases up to you."
Moshe decided to consult with HaShem before putting the plan into action. HaShem approved the plan with one minor change. Moshe did indeed appoint judges to help him, but rather than deal with the "big" problems, Moshe took care of the difficult problems. From then on, things went much more smoothly.
With that problem taken care of, Yitro said goodbye to Moshe, Tzipporah, and his grandsons, and went back home to Midyan.
Getting Ready for the Big Event
It was the month of Sivan. The Jews had reached the Sinai Desert, and the people were buzzing with excitement. They knew that in just a few short days, they would be receiving the Torah! They could hardly believe it was really going to happen!
Early in the morning, Moshe climbed to the top of Mount Sinai. It wasn't very tall, compared to the grand mountains all around it. Mount Sinai was a humble little mountain, dotted with flowers.
HaShem spoke to Moshe:
"Moshe, tell the people that I have chosen them to be My special nation. They have seen what I did for them in Egypt and how I brought them out, just as an eagle carries its babies on its wings to protect them from arrows from below. Now I want to give them My Torah, and all of My commandments. Go down and tell the people what I have just told you - first the women, and then the men. Ask them if they will agree to be a holy people and keep all of My laws."
Moshe came down the mountain and recounted to the zekainim exactly what HaShem had told him - that He would soon be giving the Jewish people His commandments.
"Will you accept HaShem's commandments?" Moshe asked the zekainim.
Before the zekainim could open their mouths to respond, all of the Jewish people called out in one voice: "Everything that HaShem has said - we will do!"
Moshe went back up Mount Sinai to tell HaShem the good news. (Of course, HaShem already knew what the Jews had answered, but it was good manners for Moshe to bring him the message anyway.)
HaShem then told Moshe, "You'll be the middleman. I'll tell you the Torah and you repeat the exact words to the Jewish people."
Moshe replied, "The people want is to hear the commandments directly from You, in Your voice... the voice of the King!"
"Then it will be as they have requested - but they must first prepare themselves, and become very holy. Also, make a fence around the mountain so that the Jews will not go too close to it. Tell them not to touch it at all, since it is holy. Even the kohanim shouldn't come too close."
Moshe went right back down and told the people what HaShem had said. They prepared and purified themselves so they would be ready for the great event...
The Moment They Had Been Waiting For
It was Shabbat morning, the sixth day of Sivan, in the year 2448 (counted from the sixth day of Creation). It had rained the night before, and Mount Sinai was clean and fresh. The Jewish people looked up from their camp toward the mountain.
A heavy cloud was on top of the mountain. Then -- BOOM! -- there was a great crash of thunder! Lightning flashed from the sky! And then came a long, long blast of the shofar, getting louder and louder.
The attention of the Jewish people was riveted by the sights and sounds on Mount Sinai, and they were trembling with fear. Soon they would hear HaShem's voice. Would they be able to stand it?
Moshe said soothingly to the people, "Come to the foot of the mountain, up to the border fence." HaShem came down to Mount Sinai in fire, and the mountain was covered in smoke. The ground shook, and the sound of the shofar blast kept getting louder... and louder...
HaShem was almost ready to speak, but first He wanted to make sure every single Jew would witness Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah). So, He miraculously made every blind person able to see.
At last, the moment of truth arrived. HaShem began to speak! First, HaShem gave the Ten Commandments all at the same time, to show that no mere human could possibly be speaking. But the people couldn't understand what He had said, so He repeated each commandment, one by one.
The First Commandment: I Am HaShem
HaShem said: "I am HaShem, your G-d, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt!"
Then HaShem commanded the Jews to know that He is the only G-d. It was He who created the world and continues to watch over it. There is only One HaShem. When HaShem spoke the first commandment to the people, they were so overwhelmed with joy that their souls flew right out of their bodies! HaShem brought them back to life so that He could give His second commandment...
The Second Commandment: Don't Worship Idols
Believing in gods other than HaShem is not allowed. It is also forbidden to carve idols or make pictures to worship.
When the people heard HaShem speak the second commandment, their souls flew right back out of their bodies again. And again, HaShem restored them.
But it was just too much for the people to take. They didn't want to risk losing their lives again, so they pleaded with Moshe to give them the commandments in his voice. HaShem then spoke the other eight commandments to Moshe, and Moshe repeated them to the Jewish nation.
The Third Commandment: Don't Take HaShem's Name in Vain
This commandment teaches us that HaShem's name is holy and special and may only be used properly. We aren't allowed to take oaths and make promises using HaShem's name, to say blessings that are not necessary, or to do anything that uses HaShem's name "in vain" - without a purpose. We shouldn't use HaShem's name (including the English word "G-d") in a casual, careless, or off-hand way.
