Overview: Parashat Hashavua Yitro

פרשת השבוע יתר

Parashat Hashavua Yitro

Here are this Week Aliyot of this week’s Parsha:

• Torah: Shemot / Exodus 18:1-20:23
• Prophets: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6

The seventeenth reading from the Torah is named Yitro (יתרו), which is the literal Hebrew behind the name Jethro. The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which says, “Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people” (Exodus 18:1).

The portion tells the story of Jethro’s visit to the camp of Israel, then relates the great theophany at Mount Sinai, where God gives Israel the Ten Commandments and invites the people to enter a special covenant relationship with Him.

1st Aliya: Yitro brings Moshe’s wife and two sons to join him in the desert. In 18:10, Yitro proclaims his belief in HaShem and identifies His manifest justice as the primary motive for his belief and conversion.

2nd & 3rd Aliyot: Yitro observes Moshe’s daily schedule as chief administrator, judge, and teacheRabbi He advises his son-in-law to delegate some responsibilities to a hierarchy of worthy judges and administrators. This would allow Moshe to focus his attention on those issues that demand his specific attention. Moshe listens to Yitro’s advice.

4th Aliya: This begins the preparation for Revelation. It is the 1st day of Sivan, and the Bnai Yisrael have been in the desert for 43 days. Moshe is told by HaShem to explain to the nation that they are a "kingdom of priests…"

5th Aliya: Moshe tells the nation of God’s expectations and they respond, "all that HaShem will command we will do." Moshe is further instructed to tell the people to prepare themselves by immersing themselves and their clothing in a Mikveh (ritual bath), and to remain apart form their spouses for 3 days. Har Sinai (Mount Sinai / Mount Horeb) is to be fenced off so that no person or animal could ascend the mountain until the shofar sounded the conclusion of Revelation (like the end of Yom kippur, or the final revelation of Mashiach). On the 3rd day, Revelation began with lightning, thunder, the sounding of a Shofar, and Mt. Sinai completely engulfed in clouds, smoke, and fire. Moshe led the nation to assemble at the foot of a trembling Har Sinai.

6th Aliya: HaShem summoned Moshe to ascend the mountain and instructed him to re-emphasize the prohibition against anyone ascending the mountain during Revelation. Moshe descends and discharges HaShem’s wishes. With Moshe standing among the people at the foot of the mountain, HaShem spoke the "Aseret haDibrot" Ten Commandments to the entire people.

7th Aliya: This last Aliya describes the reaction of the nation to Revelation. In 20:19, the pasuk (verse) factually states that the Bnai Yisrael (Jewish Nation) collectively heard God speak. It is among the most fundamentally important statements in the entire Torah. The Parsha concludes with the three commandments regarding the Mizbeach (Altar).  

Filed Under: Jewish Roots, Parashat Yitro, Torah Video, torah

Tags: 1492, aliya, aliyot, chief administrator, covenant relationship, exodus, first verse, HaShem, isaiah, midian, moshe, mount sinai, parsha, reading from the torah, ritual bath, rsquo, shemot, Sivan, theophany, title comes from

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