Torah Portion of the Week
Building Character through the Themes of the Weekly Torah Portion
וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ כֹהֵן מִדְיָן חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ כִּי־הוֹצִיא ה׳ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם׃
Va-yish-ma Yit-ro ko-hen Mid-yan kho-ten Mo-sheh et kol–a-sher a-sah E-lo-him l’Mo-sheh ul-Yis-ra-el a-mo ki–ho-tzi A-do-nai et–Yis-ra-el mi-Mitz-ra-yim.
Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 18:1
This week’s Torah portion is the only portion in the Book of Exodus named after a person—Yitro. It is a special portion, as it recounts the monumental moment of the Giving of the Torah. Yitro is the Hebrew name for “Jethro,” Moses’ father-in-law.
Jethro observed how Moses alone was settling all of the disputes among the Israelites, and was concerned that this heavy burden would eventually wear him down. He not only had the wisdom to recognize that there was a problem, but he also did something very important: he offered a solution. He advised Moses to appoint capable, trustworthy judges to help settle all of the disputes, except for the most difficult cases, which would be brought to Moses. Moses listened carefully to Jethro’s advice and found that it was good.
By following Jethro’s advice and asking for help in adjudicating the Israelites’ disputes, the burden on Moses was made light. It is clear that Jethro was a wise man, and that he was respected by Moses.
Who Is Wise?
Moses, being the great leader and teacher that he was, displayed the humility and wisdom to heed the advice that was given to him and ask for help. There are two important lessons to be learned here:
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- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. As great as Moses was, he still asked for help—and you can, too. No matter who you are or how much you know, there is always room to learn and grow. Don’t fear the involvement of others to reach your goals; ask them to get involved and help you reach the goal of a lifetime; let them help you maximize your gifts and talents.
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- Everyone has something to teach, and everyone has something to learn. Your attitude towards wisdom is one of your greatest responsibilities. Listening carefully is a quality worth having.
Pirkei Avot (“Ethics of the Fathers”), a compilation of ethical and moral teachings and principles passed down by the Sages, says the following: “Who is wise? One who learns from every man. As it is written (Psalm 119:99) ‘I have gained understanding from all my teachers.’” (Pirkei Avot 4:1)
Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words
| a | [a] as in arm |
| ai | [ai] as in Thailand |
| e | [e] as in red |
| ei | [ei] as in eight |
| i | [i] as in ski |
| o | [o] as in score |
| oi | [oi] as in oil |
| u | [u] as in rule |
| ui | [ui] as in gluing |
| ch/kh | [ch] as in the Scottish loch |
| g | [g] as in good (not as in giant) |
| tz | [ts] as in hats |
| ‘ | short “eh” or “uh” sound |
The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash®
