Parashat Yitro
Exodus 18:1 - Exodus 20:23

Jethro rejoiced over all God had done for them and declared that God is greater than all other gods. He brought a burnt sacrifice to God and Aaron came with the elders of Israel to partake if the meal. The next day, Moses sat as a judge for the people. When Jethro noticed how much he had to do, he asked why are you doing this all alone. And Moses responded that the people come either to inquire about God or to settle a dispute, and he counsels them.

Jethro told Moses that your work is too much for one person; you will wear yourself and the people out too soon. Jethro advised him to represent the people before God only and select chiefs from among the people. Have them bring the major disputes to you and let them settle the minor ones. Make it easier on yourself; God so commands you.  Moses heeded his father-in-law and bade him farewell as he returned to his land.

Chapter 19
In the third month after leaving Egypt, the Israelites made camp in the wilderness beside the mountain of God, and Moses went up to God. God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that they have seen what He did to the Egyptians and how God brought them to Him. Now they must obey Me faithfully and follow My commandments and they shall be treasured among all nations. And to Me they shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Moses then explained all of Gods words, and they all responded that all that the Lord has spoken, we will do. God told Moses to warn the people to stay pure today and tomorrow, wash their clothes and prepare themselves for on the third day the Lord will come down in sight of the people. No one may go up or touch the mountain for whoever does will be put to death. When the ram's horn sounds a long blast they may go up. On the third day, there was thunder, lightening and a dense cloud upon the mountain and a very loud blast of the horn.

Moses led the people to the foot of the mountain. Mt Sinai was like a kiln with smoke pouring out; the Lord came down in fire and the mountain trembled violently. As Moses spoke on top of the mountain, God answered him in thunder. God told Moses to warn the people not to break through and gaze upon the Lord, or they will die. Moses explained to God that the people cannot come up to the mountain and the Lord replied to go down and come back with Aaron but let no one break through to come up. So, Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Chapter 20
"God spoke all these words", and the Torah goes on to list each of the Ten Commandments. All the people witnessed thunder and lightening, smoke and the blare of the ram’s horn. They said to Moses when you speak to us we will obey, but do not let God speak to us otherwise we will die. The people were terrified, but Moses reassured them to have no fear; God has come to test you so you will always remember His awesomeness.
Then God said to Moses that the Israelites must not make gods of gold or silver, but make an altar of earth and sacrifice your sheep and your oxen in the place where my name is mentioned; God will then come to you and bless you.

Exodus 18:11
Now I (Jethro) know that the Lord is greater than all gods, yes by the result of their very schemes against [the people].
Food for thought:
1. What convinced Jethro that the Lord is greater than all gods?
2. Do you think the gods of those days had human qualities that caused them to scheme against the people?
3. How in your mind does the Lord our God differ from all gods or any god? Do you have any other gods that you worship?

Exodus 18:21-22
You shall seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens and let them judge the people at all times. Having them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier on yourself, and let them share the burden with you.
Food for thought:
1. Who do you think decided that Moses had to do all the work himself? Was his choice God given or Moses given?
2. Why do you think Jethro, Moses' father-in-law advises him to select subordinates to decide minor disputes? Why was only Moses capable of deciding the major ones?
3. What do you think is the modern day institutions that are based on Jethro's advice to Moses?

Exodus 19:10
And the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and warn them to stay pure today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothes. Let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day, the Lord will come down, in the sight of all the people, on Mount Sinai.
Food for thought:
1. We are approaching the monumental event in Jewish biblical history, the revelation at Sinai. Besides washing their clothes, what kind of purity do you think God was referring to?
2. If you were awaiting such an impressive marvel, how would you prepare yourself?
3.  "Warning" seems like an ominous threat. Why did the people have to be warned? What were the consequences?
 

Exodus 19:16
On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder and lightening, and a very dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the horn; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
Food for thought:
1. Do you think this description of the revelation at Sinai is presented as dramatically as possible?
2. How would you imagine such a momentous moment to take place?
3. Why do you think God is portrayed in the Torah as fire, clouds, thunder and lightening? Do you think some another analogy would be more fitting?
 

Exodus 19:24-25
So the Lord said to him, "Go down, and come back together with Aaron; but let not the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them".  And Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
Food for thought:
1. This scene apparently takes place on top of the mountain. What do you think is the difference between on top of the mountain and the foot of the mountain?
2. Why can't the people come up to the Lord? Where did the priests come from? There's no prior mention of them.
3. Keep your eye on the phrases "going up" and "going down"; there will be more references in the future. What do you think the phrases mean? Where else have we seen these phrases used?
4. How and why would God break out against the people if they came up to the Lord?

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother; that you may long endure on the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
Food for thought:
1. This verse is the fifth of the Ten Commandments; the condition to remain on the land appears here to relate to honoring father and mother. What reasons could you think of why this condition was inserted?
2. What do you think is the significance of the Ten Commandments?
3. In what ways do they differ from all the other commandments?
4. How do you think the Ten Commandments relate to the revelation on Sinai? What do you think is the importance of the revelation?

Exodus 20:20
With Me, therefore, you shall not make any gods of silver, not shall you make for yourselves any gods of gold. Make for me an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you.
Food for thought:
1. Do you think that human beings are so inclined to worship other gods that God had to offer them an alternate of making a sacrificial altar of earth?
2. The second of the Ten Commandments talks about not worshipping sculptured images. Why is God so concerned about this injunction?
3. Why does idolatry seem to have such a negative connotation in Jewish tradition?

Additional questions to ponder:
1. What is it about the story, a verse, a word that seems to resonate with some aspect of your life?
2. Is there something about the story that rings a bell?
3. Can you recall experiences in your life when you have experienced something similar to this story?
4. How would you describe the characters in the story? Who do you know who's like them?
5. Can you personally identify with any one of the characters in the story? Which one?
6. Can you find a similarity between yourself and all the characters in the story?

Reflections:
The Rabbis of old would meditate on such questions, sometimes for weeks at a time, to help find deeper meaning in the verses. You may wish to contemplate just one or a few of these questions at a time, rather than tackling them all.
In what ways we any of your responses to the questions personally meaningful?

Suggestion:
Some of the questions here are of a personal nature which in some cases could be emotionally upsetting. If so, try relaxing your body as much as possible and takes long slow breaths of air. That usually helps to relieve anxiety.

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Creative Midrash on Parashat Yitro                      return to top of page

Exodus 20:4
You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above or the earth below, or in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the Lord your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who Love me and keep My commandments.
 

The Rabbis of old would create parables, stories and narrative connections around such selected verses. What do you see between the lines, the sentences and the letters. The following questions can provide a launch pad upon which to create your own meanings of the Torah.

Imagine yourself as one of the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai at the moment of the revelation. How do you picture the scene at the foot of the mountain? What do you hear? What does this all mean to you? Where are Moses and Aaron right now? You just heard God pronouncing the first commandment. Here is the second commandment. What do you understand this to mean? How are you feeling right now? Why is God telling you not to make any sculptured images? What do you think sculptured images represent? Have you ever made sculptured images in the past? Will you make them again?

Spend some time thinking about these questions. After you mentally process them for a day or two, it could be helpful to record your conclusions in a journal. It's not important to have correct answers; it's more important to wrestle with the narrative. In time this process can teach you to change many of your unproductive thoughts and beliefs for new ones that work more effectively.