| Parsha YitroThe curious character of Yitro shows up again in this Parsha. The last time we saw him was when he gave Moses leave to go back to Egypt to rescue Israel. Prior to that Moses has his revelation on Mount Sinai. Now just before Moses is about to go up the mountain again Yitro appears. Yitro is a priest (Kohain) of Midian. This mountain is also sacred to his people. Moses is pleased to see him and it appears even more so than he is to see his wife and two sons. Yitro acknowledges Hashem and builds an altar to Hashem to worship there. Yitro watches Moses judging the people and suggests something that at first seems very sensible but will later prove to keep Israel ultimately away from the very thing they are seeking, unity with Hashem. Yitro suggests organizing the people in a hierarchy or judges in order to save Moses from tiring himself. It is unfortunate and yet perhaps fated that Yitro appears when he does because it gives us a further insight into the problems th... |
