Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Parasha Overview: Yitro (Videos)

Weekly Sidra: Yitro (Jetro) Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 18:1-20:23 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 6:1-6:13 (Sephardim) Yitro, Yithro, or Yitro (יִתְרוֹ — Hebrew for “Jethro,” the second word and first distinctive word in the parasha) is the seventeenth weekly Torah portion (parasha) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 18:1–20:23. 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). Jews in the Diaspora read it the seventeenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in late January or February. Jewish people also read part of the parasha, Exodus 19:1–20:23, as a Torah reading on the first day of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments. In last week's parsha, Beshalach, the Jewish nation completed their redemption from Egypt with the splitting of the Yam Suf, their crossing it on dry land, and the death of the Egyptian army. This 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. Note: On the Shabbat...