Yitro/Meira welt

By Rabbis for Human Rights on July 9, 2007 - כ"ג תמוז תשס"ז

“Moshe sat, etc. The people stood.” - He sat like a king while they all stood and this displeased Yisro for he was not showing proper respect to [B'nei] Yisrael and he reprimanded him for it, as it is said: “Why are you alone sitting,” while they are all standing.[Rashi on Exodus 18:13]

When Yitro observes the busy daily schedule of Moses, he isn’t impressed by Moses’ extra ordinary strength to work from morning till evening; but rather protests against the insult towards the dignity of Israel. Why does he sit – while they stand? This concern for their rights is what motivates Yitro to propose a management shift in the way Moses ran things so far; not the heavy work load which Moses took upon himself - even more then he could handle.

This preoccupation with dignity, honor, respect and glory is a central theme in the parasha, according to Rashi’s reading of the verses. [In Hebrew all these terms are included in the word 'kavod']. After Yitro heard all which God had done on behalf of Moses and Israel, he came to show respect and take the honorary role of being the father in law of Moses. This behavior is parallel to Moses returning to Yitro his father in law (Exodus 4:18) to partake in the honor given to Yitro as the Priest of Midian.

One honor leads to another one as a token of respect, Moses goes to greet Yitro. Since Moses goes, he is accompanied by Aharon, Nadav & Avihu. Seeing this distinguished entourage, everyone wants to join.

Yitro as a father in law feels intimacy with Moses.  Even though Moses is a man of God and such a respected man, Yitro is therefore the one who dares critique Moses and remind him of his role as a family man towards his wife and children. The Torah calls their children Ziporah’s children to demonstrate how distant Moses was from them.

It seems Yitro is a man who is respected precisely because he acknowledges the human dignity in others. In the midrash Mechilta D’Rabbi Yishmael it is stated that Yitro’s actions put Israel in shame. Yitro, as an outsider who wasn’t accustomed to take others efforts for granted and who showed respect, was the first to notice and thank God for God’s actions. The midrash says we learn to Bless God from Yitro.

Yitro’s advice to privatize the legal system and coax Moses into teaching the laws, and sharing the honor & the responsibilities accompanying it, empowers Israel and makes them realize their abilities. They learn to trust their sense of justice and acknowledge their own human dignity, having being created in the Image of God – Who as the haftorah declares fills the whole earth with God’s Glory (Isaiah 6:3). Yitro doesn’t attempt a cosmetic change by adding chairs for Israel to sit in, but rather leads a true necessary revolution.

Yitro advises to take people from all affiliations and not just Levites or Priests. Moses learns to share and respect the Image of God within the lay people and while maintaining his exclusivity as a prophet.  He accepts that a sense of justice and distinguishing between right and wrong is a universal quality which each person can acquire. This self consciousness is a preliminary condition for Israel to receive the commandments and the Torah. Transferring knowledge and laws is definitely empowering, but at the same time opens a whole new set of questions which require leadership and personal responsibility.

This ability to be sensitive to other’s rights and human dignity must not come at the expense of going beyond one’s own limits. This principle is demonstrated in the ten commandments; In addition to honoring God, your parents and showing respect towards others and their property one must acknowledge, like Moses, one’s own physical and mental limits. During the Sabbath you too are commanded to rest.

Shabbat Shalom

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