This week we read from Yitro – Exodus 18:1 – 20:23. (Click to listen/download)
This weeks portion called yeetro (translated “Yitro”) is from Exodus 18:1 – 20:23.
In this week’s reading, Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, arrives at the Israelite encampment, and advises them to set up a smoothly functioning legal system. The Israelites experience the Divine revelation at Mount Sinai and hear the Ten Commandments.
Please stand with me while I read from the parsha:
Exo 19:16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.
Exo 19:18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
Exo 19:19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
Exo 19:20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
It was one of the most awesome events in the history of human beings. Today, I want to take a little different approach to the parsha – I want to take a look in detail at a midrash written around this most amazing one time encounter with the Living God.
Based on an article by Naftali Silberberg
Rabbi Meir (one of the major Jewish sages) said: When the Israelites stood before Sinai to receive the Torah, God said to them: “I swear, I will not give you the Torah unless you provide worthy guarantors who will assure that you will observe its laws.”…
The Israelites declared, “Our children will serve as our guarantors!“
“They truly are worthy guarantors,” God replied. “Because of them I will give the Torah.“
(Midrash Rabba, Song of Songs 1:4)
Of the many childish qualities which set apart the youth from their adult counterparts, two are very stark and blatant. Mainly, these qualities are associated with the very young – but can sometimes linger a bit.
1) A child’s entire focus is on the here and now. The past is a non-existent bygone, and the future—an even more non-existent dream. The younger the child, the more non-existent is all but the present.
For example: On Sunday morning, the average adult wakes up and thinks about his goals for the day ahead—be they taking care of responsibilities or chores, or indulging some desires and hobbies which are reserved for weekends. Only after creating some semblance of a plan does the day begin in earnest.
A child, on the other hand, wakes up and his first thought is: “What do I do now? Do I jump on Mom’s head to wake her up? Or can I better utilize Mom’s sleep time by climbing the china closet to get some of the cookies she’s hidden there?” The day ahead is completely irrelevant; all that matters is living in the moment.
2) Every child considers himself to be the very cog around which the world revolves; the sole purpose of every God-created being is to serve him. Every game and latest gadget was invented with him in mind, and how dare Mom and Dad – who were also put on Earth to serve him – deny him anything!
The importance of global upheavals and momentous scientific discoveries pale in comparison to a lollypop. If it doesn’t affect him, it just doesn’t matter.
These two childish qualities clearly have serious downsides. Thankfully, people mature—for living in a world where people remained exclusively focused on themselves without consideration for others would be unimaginable. And the human would still be living in caves if he lacked the capacity to plan for the future. However, there is something we can learn from the child’s perspective.
In Pirkei Avos (Ethincs of the Fathers) 2:4 Rabbi Hillel taught,”Do not say ‘When I will have free time I will study,’ for perhaps you will never have free time”. How much more would each of us accomplish if we were childishly eager to utilize the present moment to its utmost, instead of delaying important goals for an imaginary future? And, how many people’s ambitions are hampered because they dwell in the non-existent past—frightened into doing nothing by past failures, or lacking motivation because they rest on the laurels of past achievements?
“Every person is obligated to say, ‘The world was created for me'” according to the Mishnah recorded in Talmud Sanhedrin 37a. You are not an insignificant cosmic speck; you are the reason why the world was created. God Himself waits for you to fulfill the purpose of creation.
Our Master Yeshua taught us that we need to accept the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven as a child as it is written:
Mar 10:13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
Mar 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Mar 10:16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Perhaps the midrash sounds a ring of truth and this is why God enthusiastically accepted the children as guarantors for the Torah. The message is plain: Torah is intended for “childish” people who realize that 1. there’s no time like the present, and 2. you are the one chosen to do it!
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