ברוך ה' אלקי ישראל אשר הציל אתכם מתחת יד מצרים ומיד פרעה
Blessed is Hashem who has saved you from the hand of Egypt and the hand of Pharaoh...
What is so significant about Yisro’s blessing? The Jewish people would have offered many blessings of thanks to Hashem for their Redemption. Yet none of these prayers recorded in the Torah, but the blessing of Yisro is?
The verse in Shir Hashirim reads; השמיעני קולך כי קולך ערב, “Let me hear your voice, because your voice is sweet”. The word ערב also means a guarantor. The voice is a metaphor for prayer. When does Hashem say “Let me hear your voice”, desiring to hear our prayers? When our prayers are in the manner of a guarantor.
A guarantor puts themselves out in order to benefit someone else. Even though they become personally liable and exposed to risk, the guarantor is prepared to accept the liability in order to help their fellow.
A person should not Daven only for themselves and their own needs. Nor should one only rejoice in their own success and blessings. Praying in this way is selfish, crass and lowly.
Rather we should Daven on behalf of others and beseech Hashem that they should be blessed. And we should genuinely rejoice in their good fortune, success and blessings.
Not only that, but we should also be willing to put ourselves out on behalf of our fellow, just so that they should see goodness and blessing.
Yisro did not personally benefit from the Exodus from Egypt. He was not a slave under the hand of Pharaoh. His blessing was an expression of pure joy over the good fortune and salvation of others. This is the prayer that Hashem wants to hear and wants recorded in His Torah for all time.
ב"ה
But you cannot fool Hashem. Iyov could have spoken up and perhaps his voice could have made a difference. Even if not, how could he be silent and allow such suffering to come to Bnei Yisrael without trying to do something about it? For his part, Iyov was punished with the most horrific suffering imaginable.
When facing his own suffering, Iyov did not keep quiet. He cried out bitterly in anguish and distress. When it was others who would suffer, he was silent. Iyov was punished for his hypocrisy as much as his silence.
Hashem rewarded Yisro by naming this Parsha after him and he merited descendants who would sit on the Sanhedrin. Yisro was a man who stood up for truth, justice and righteousness. This week’s Parsha details his recommendation to establish a hierarchy of judges and the qualities of justice that they should embody.
In relation to antisemitism on our shores, we have seen all three approaches being followed.
The Bilaam’s have sided with the genocidal terrorists, either engaging in antisemitic acts themselves or celebrating, encouraging and justifying antisemitism and attacks on an innocent population.
We have also had our Yisro’s, the upstanding politicians, citizens and media personalities who have consistently and unequivocally condemned antisemitism. They have not bowed to social pressures or concerns of political fallout. They have stood for justice and right no matter the cost.
But unfortunately there are too many Iyov’s; Leaders and politicians who are too weak to call out and address antisemitism because of their personal electorate concerns, and bystanders who find it easier to pretend it is not happening in our country or that it is not a problem. Their silence allows it to continue and shows tacit consent and support.
Silence and fence-sitting is not an option. Let’s learn from Yisro’s courage to take a clear stand on the side of right, no matter the cost. Hashem sees, and He will certainly not let righteousness go unrewarded.
Antisemitism has exploded across Australia. It started just after October 7 with calls of “gas the Jews” or “where are the Jews” (as if there is a difference!). This was followed by a string of graffiti and vandalism attacks. And every Sunday the city streets have been taken over by protesters, spewing anti-Israel and antisemitic vitriol and making the city a no-go for Jews.
Without firm condemnations and serious steps to stamp out the hate, antisemitism was allowed to fester. The attacks increased in frequency and severity, culminating in the firebombing of the Adass Shule and this week’s unashamed declaration by 2 nurses that they would kill Israeli patients and intimation that they had actually already done so.
Now the politicians, police, professional bodies and media have woken up and seem to be taking a strong stance. But where were they all along when their voices and actions could have made a difference and stopped us from reaching this point?
The Talmud teaches that when Pharaoh enacted his genocidal plans against the Jewish people, three of his advisors were present; Bilaam, Iyov and Yisro.
Bilaam, supported and encouraged Pharaoh’s antisemitic ambitions, advising him to drown the baby Jewish boys in the river. Bilaam was punished years later by being slain in battle at the hand of Bnei Yisrael, the very people he wanted to kill.
Driven by an inner voice of morality, Yisro protested against Pharaoh’s heinous plan. He did so at great personal risk. Pharaoh stripped Yisro of his position and honours and he was banished to the desert.
Iyov saw what had happened to his colleagues and decided to keep quiet and play the diplomat. By staying silent, he could argue that he did not support the decree. At the same time he could protect his own skin by saying that he did not criticise or try to stop Pharoah’s plan. He would be able to avoid facing the backlash that Yisro had received and at the same time still see himself as a good guy.
