QUESTION: What did Yisro add that warranted that the Parsha be called by his name?
Moshe judged the people by himself, lifting the people to his level. Yisro’s addition (the outsider) saw that the people could judge themselves and make the Torah their own. Thus, his name was added to this Parsha indicating the addition that a Jew may make the Torah one’s own. (לקוטי שיחות כרך ו ט, עמ' 203)
QUESTION: Why was Moshe commanded to give different information to the women than the men?
Moshe was commanded to give to the women the general principles and foundations of the Torah (the essence), and to give to the men only the particulars (a lower level). Men exist within a particular, limited “hour”. Whereas, women relate to the essence of time, they transcend the particulars. Therefore, it is said that just as the redemption of Egypt was due to the merit of women, so the woman will create the conditions for the future Redemption. (לקוטי שיחות כרך כא, עמ' 93)
QUESTION: Why was the giving of Torah accompanied by five Sounds קולות?
Within each “sound” there is an importance and a complete concept of Torah. The five levels show the drawing down through the natural order from above (evident within Torah and the Chatan & Kallah). All five levels of Torah were given together, so that the highest should transform even the lowest part of a person. (לקוטי שיחות כרך עמו, עמ' 107)
SOUL LEVELS WORLDS SOUL EXPRESS G-D’S NAME LIFE FORCES SEVEN BLESSINGS TORAH
נפש עשיה אותיות ה דומם ששון
ויהי קולות (לשון רבים)
רוח יצירה מידות ו צומח שמחה
נשמה בריאה שכל ה חי חתן וקול שופר
חי' אצילות כח הדיבור י מדבר כלה קול השופר
יחידה עצמות אנכי יהודי הודו את ה' אלקים יעננו בקול
QUESTION: Why is the different levels of refraining from activities on Shabbos: in action (from the Torah), in speech (from the Rabbis) and in thought (from Chassidus)?
Shabbos we make a cessation on various levels to reflect on our relationship with G-d (לקוטי שיחות כרך י, עמ' 80)
ACTION Torah
ה' עשהכי ששת ימים
Effect outside of oneself
Shows an external connection with the Commander
SPEECH Rabanan
שבות כה'
Reveals one’s intellect and feelings to another
Shows an inner desire to cling to G-d
THOUGHT Midas Chassidus
חסיד עושה לפנים משורת הדין
Reveals one’s intellect and feelings to oneself; no connection to physicality
One’s whole existence is to serve one’s Creator; completely nullified
