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1) Text of Parashah February 2, 2021 10-11: 15 am

2) Jethro priest of Midian, ’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the LORD had brought Israel out from Egypt. ַויִּ ֗ ַקּח יִ ְתר ֙וֹ ח ֹ ֵ֣תן מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ֶא ִת־צפָֹּ֖רה ֵ֣א ֶשׁת מ ֹ ֶ֑שׁה אַ ַ֖חר ִשׁלּוּ ֶחֽי ָה׃ When Jethro heard….Was it only Jethro who heard? We are told that all the nations heard and trembled and ran away from God. Jethro heard and moved closer. Who else moved close to God or noticed God while others ran away? Why is this significant? ______3) So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took , Moses’ wife, after she had been sent home, ְו ֵ֖את ְשׁ ֵ֣ני ָב ֶ֑ני ָה ֲא ֨ ֶשׁר ֵ֤שׁם ָהֽ ֶא ָח ֙ד ֵגּֽ ְר ֔שׁ ֹם ִ֣כּי אָ ֔ ַמר ֵ֣גּר ָה ֔יִ ִיתי ְבּ ֶ֖א ֶרץ נָ ְכ ִר ָיּ ֽה׃ and her two sons—of whom one was named Gershom, that is to say, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”; ְו ֵ֥שׁם ָה ֶא ָ֖חד ֱא ִלי ֶ֑עזֶר ִכּֽי־ ֱאל ֵ֤הי אָ ִב ֙י ְבּ ֶעזְ ִ֔רי ַויַּ ִצּ ֵ֖לנִי ֵמ ֶ֥ח ֶרב ַפּ ְר ֽע ֹה׃ and the other was named , meaning, “The God of my father was my help, and He delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” Her two sons, she was raising them by herself in her father’s kingdom. Zohar This is the first glimpse we have into Moses’ domestic life. When he is required by God to take leadership of the Jewish people, he is already married to Zipporah, a Midian Priestess. He leaves her in her father’s kingdom, while he leads the Israelites. She goes out to him twice and conceives two children, who she names after Moses’ experiences. In Parashah Beshellach, where the Israelites cross the sea, there is another story called the bloody bridegroom. Moses was supposed to come home for his son’s birth and circumcision, but he is late. After 8 days, Zipporah readies herself to circumcize her son Eliezer. She says the blessings and takes for foreskin off of her son with a flint knife. At that moment, Moses runs into the scene. She is furious and throws the piece of skin that was cut from her son into Moses’ face. She yells at his that he is a husband of blood to her. This is one of the most mysterious section of Torah. Not one commentator has been able to truly make sense of what the words mean? The best that they can come up with is- “now you are committed to me through the blood of our son.” “ From the mouth of Zipporah- you owe me. I, the non-Jew, made sure that your son is a Jew”. Jethro sees that there is conflict in the marriage and goes to Moses with Zipporah and his sons to address the issue of leadership and parenting. One of the issues that parent’s struggle with today. 2

______ַויָּ ֞ב ֹא יִ ְת ֨רוֹ ח ֹ ֵ֥תן מ ֹ ֶ֛שׁה וּ ָב ָנ֥יו ְו ִא ְשׁ ֖תּוֹ ֶאל־מ ֹ ֶ֑שׁה ֶאל־ ַה ִמּ ְד ֗ ָבּר ֲא ֶשׁר־ ֛הוּא ח ֶֹנ֥ה ָ֖שׁם ַ֥הר ָה ֱאל ִהֽים׃ 4) Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife to him in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. ַו ֙יּ ֹא ֶמ ֙ר ֶאל־מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ֲא ִנ֛י ח ֹ ֶתנְ ֥ך יִ ְת֖רוֹ ָ֣בּא ֵא ֶ֑ליך ְו ִ֨א ְשׁ ְתּ ֔ך וּ ְשׁ ֵנ֥י ָב ֶ֖ני ָה ִע ָמּֽהּ׃ He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.” ַויֵּ ֨ ֵצא מ ֹ ֜ ֶשׁה ִל ְקַ֣ראת ֽח ֹ ְת ֗נוֹ ַויִּ ְשׁ ַ֙תּח ֙וּ ַויִּשּּׁק־ ֔לוֹ ַויִּ ְשׁ ֲא ֥לוּ ִאישׁ־ ְל ֵר ֵ֖עהוּ ְל ָשׁ ֑לוֹם ַויָּ ֖ב ֹאוּ ָה ֽא ֹ ֱה ָלה׃ Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed low and kissed him; each asked after the other’s welfare, and they went into the tent. ַויְ ַס ֵ֤פּר מ ֹ ֶשׁ ֙ה ְל ֣ח ֹ ְת ֔נוֹ ֵא ֩ת ָכּל־ ֲא ֨ ֶשׁר ָע ָ֤שׂה יְה ָו ֙ה ְל ַפ ְר ֣ע ֹה וּ ְל ִמ ְצ ַ֔ריִם ַ֖על אוֹ ֣ד ֹת יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵ֑אל ֵ֤את ָכּל־ ַה ְתּ ָלאָ ֙ה ֲא ֶ֣שׁר ְמ ָצ ָ֣א ַתם ַבּ ֶ֔דּ ֶרך ַויַּ ִצּ ֵ֖לם יְהוָ ֽה׃ Moses then recounted to his father-in-law everything that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had befallen them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. ַויִִּ ַח ְדּ יִ ְת ֔רוֹ ֚ ַעל ָכּל־ ַהטּוֹ ֔ ָבה ֲא ֶשׁר־ ָע ָ֥שׂה יְהָ֖וה ְליִ ְשׂ ָר ֵ֑אל ֲא ֶ֥שׁר ִה ִצּי ֖לוֹ ִמ ַיּ֥ד ִמ ְצָ ֽריִם׃ And Jethro rejoiced over all the kindness that the LORD had shown Israel when He delivered them from the Egyptians. And Jethro rejoiced… do not read Va-hilad as rejoiced rather as Hadah ( a sharp sword). Rav said that he passed a sharp sword over himself (circumcised himself). Why would Jethro want to convert at this moment? 5) ( ( ַויּ ֹא ֶמ ֮ר יִ ְתר ֒וֹ ָבּ֣רוּך יְה ָ֔וה ֲא ֨ ֶשׁר ִה ִ֥צּיל ֶא ְת ֶ֛כם ִמ ַיּ֥ד ִמ ְצַ֖ריִם וּ ִמ ַיּ֣ד ַפּ ְר ֑ע ֹה ֲא ֶ֤שׁר ִה ִצּיל֙ ֶאת־ ָה ֔ ָעם ִמ ַ֖תּ ַחת יַד־ ִמ ְצָ ֽריִם׃ “Blessed be the LORD,” Jethro said, “who delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Blessed be the Lord..It was shameful that neither Moses nor the 600,000 ever used the formulation “Blessed Be” and that Jethro was the one that initiated the phrase. Jethro is an innovater in expressing thanks to God. The Israelites had praised God for what God had done for them. Jethro praised God for God’s actions. R. Shlomo of Radosk Baruch HaShem Yom Yom 6) ַע ָ֣תּה יָ ַ֔ד ְע ִתּי ִכּֽי־גָ ֥דוֹל יְהָ֖וה ִמ ָכּל־ ָה ֱאל ִ֑הים ִ֣כּי ַב ָדּ ֔ ָבר ֲא ֶ֥שׁר זָ ֖דוּ ֲע ֵלי ֶהֽם׃ Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, yes, by the result of their very schemes against [the people].” Moment of conversion. Statement that God is the God 3

ַויִּ ֞ ַקּח יִ ְת ֨רוֹ ח ֹ ֵ֥תן מ ֹ ֶ֛שׁה ע ֹ ָ֥לה וּזְ ָב ִ֖חים ֵלֽאל ִ֑הים ַויָּ ֨ב ֹא אַ ֲה ֜ר ֹן ְו ֣כ ֹל ׀ זִ ְק ֵ֣ני יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵ֗אל ֶל ֱא ָכל־ ֶ֛ל ֶחם ִעם־ח ֹ ֵ֥תן מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה ִל ְפ ֵנ֥י ָה ֱאל ִהֽים׃ And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God; and came with all the elders of Israel to partake of the meal before God with Moses’ father-in-law. ַויְ ִה ֙י ִמֽ ָמּ ֳח ָ֔רת ַו ֵיּ֥ ֶשׁב מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה ִל ְשׁ ֣פּ ֹט ֶאת־ ָה ָ֑עם ַויַּ ֲע ֤מ ֹד ָה ָע ֙ם ַעל־מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ִמן־ ַה ֖בּ ֹ ֶקר ַעד־ ָה ָעֽ ֶרב׃ 7) Next day, Moses sat as magistrate among the people, while the people stood about Moses from morning until evening. ַויַּ ְר ֙א ח ֹ ֵ֣תן מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ֵ֛את ָכּל־ ֲא ֶשׁר־ ֥הוּא ע ֹ ֶ֖שׂה ָל ָ֑עם ַו ֗יּ ֹא ֶמר ָמֽה־ ַה ָדּ ָ֤בר ַהזֶּ ֙ה ֲא ֨ ֶשׁר ַא ָ֤תּה ע ֹ ֶשׂ ֙ה ָל ֔ ָעם ַמ ֗דּוּ ַע ַא ָ֤תּה יוֹ ֵשׁ ֙ב ְל ַב ֶ֔דּך ְו ָכל־ ָה ָ֛עם נִ ָ֥צּב ָע ֶ֖ליך ִמן־ ֥בּ ֹ ֶקר ַעד־ ָעֽ ֶרב׃ But when Moses’ father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” Moses as this kind of leader can be seen as hubris or need to be needed. My first job, I worked around the clock, taking calls in the middle of the night. My senior Rabbi pulled me aside one day and said, “ You are dispensable”. At first I was offended because those were his only words. When I realized that the synagogue had been around long before I was born and would be around once I left, I focused on key areas of my Rabbinate. There were three of us and we each had different strengths and weaknesses. As we were three, we could divide and conquer playing to our strengths. ַו ֥יּ ֹא ֶמר מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה ְלח ֹ ְת ֑נוֹ ִכּֽי־יָ ֥ב ֹא ֵא ַ֛לי ָה ָ֖עם ִל ְד֥ר ֹשׁ ֱאל ִהֽים׃ Moses replied to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me to inquire of God. ִכּֽי־יִ ְה ֨יֶה ָל ֶ֤הם ָדּ ָב ֙ר ָ֣בּא ֵא ֔ ַלי ְו ָ֣שׁ ַפ ְט ֔ ִתּי ֵ֥בּין ִ֖אישׁ וּ ֵ֣בין ֵר ֵ֑עהוּ ְוהוֹ ַד ְע ִ֛תּי ֶאת־ ֻח ֵ֥קּי ָה ֱאל ִ֖הים ְו ֶאת־תּוֹר ֹ ָתֽיו׃ When they have a dispute, it comes before me, and I decide between one person and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God.” 8) ַו ֛יּ ֹא ֶמר ח ֹ ֵ֥תן מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה ֵא ָ֑ליו לא־טוֹ ֙ב ַה ָדּ ֔ ָבר ֲא ֶ֥שׁר ַא ָ֖תּה ע ֹ ֶ ֽשׂה׃ But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not right; נָ ֣ב ֹל ִתּ ֔בּ ֹל ַגּם־ ַא ֕ ָתּה ַגּם־ ָה ָ֥עם ַה ֶ֖זּה ֲא ֶ֣שׁר ִע ָ֑מּך ִכּֽי־ ָכ ֵ֤בד ִמ ְמּ ֙ך ַה ָדּ ֔ ָבר לא־תוּ ַ֥כל ֲע ֖שׂ ֹהוּ ְל ַב ֶדּֽך׃ you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. ַע ֞ ָתּה ְשׁ ַ֤מע ְבּק ֹ ִל ֙י ִאי ָ֣ע ְצ ֔ך ִוי ִ֥הי ֱאל ִ֖הים ִע ָ֑מּך ֱה ֵי֧ה ַא ָ֣תּה ָל ֗ ָעם ֚מוּל ָהֽ ֱאל ֔ ִהים ְו ֵה ֵב ָ֥את ַא ָ֛תּה ֶאת־ ַה ְדּ ָב ִ֖רים ֶאל־ ָה ֱאל ִהֽים׃ Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You represent the people before God: you bring the disputes before God, ְו ִהזְ ַה ְר ָ֣תּה ֶא ְת ֔ ֶהם ֶאת־ ַה ֻח ִ֖קּים ְו ֶאת־ ַהתּוֹ֑ר ֹת ְוהוֹ ַד ְע ָ֣תּ ָל ֗ ֶהם ֶאת־ ַה ֶ֙דּ ֶר ֙ך ֵי֣ ְלכוּ ֔ ָבהּ ְו ֶאת־ ַהֽ ַמּ ֲע ֶ֖שׂה ֲא ֶ֥שׁר יַ ֲע ֽשׂוּן׃ and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow. 4

ְו ַא ָ֣תּה ֶת ֱח ֶז֣ה ִמ ָכּל־֠ ָה ָעם אַנְ ֵשׁי־ ֜ ַחיִל יִ ְר ֵ֧אי ֱאל ִ֛הים אַנְ ֵ֥שׁי ֱא ֶ֖מת ֣שׂ ֹנְ ֵאי ָ֑ב ַצע ְו ַשׂ ְמ ָ֣תּ ֲע ֵל ֗ ֶהם ָשֵׂ֤רי ֲא ָל ִפי ֙ם ָשֵׂ֣רי ֵמ ֔אוֹת ָשֵׂ֥רי ֲח ִמ ִשּּׁים ְו ָשֵׂ֥רי ֲע ָשׂ ֽר ֹת׃ You shall also seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, ְו ָשׁ ְפ ֣טוּ ֶאת־ ָה ָע ֮ם ְבּ ָכל־ ֵע ֒ת ְו ָה֞יָה ָכּל־ ַה ָדּ ָ֤בר ַה ָגּד ֹל֙ יָ ִ֣ביאוּ ֵא ֔ ֶליך ְו ָכל־ ַה ָדּ ָ֥בר ַה ָקּ ֖ט ֹן יִ ְשׁ ְפּטוּ־ ֵ֑הם ְו ָה ֵקל֙ ֵמֽ ָע ֔ ֶליך ְונָ ְשׂ ֖אוּ ִא ָתּֽך׃ and let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you. ִ֣אם ֶאת־ ַה ָדּ ָ֤בר ַהזֶּ ֙ה ַתּ ֲע ֔ ֶשׂה ְו ִצ ְוּ ֣ך ֱאל ֔ ִהים ְו ָי ֽ ָכ ְל ָ֖תּ ֲע ֑מ ֹד ְוגַ ֙ם ָכּל־ ָה ָ֣עם ַה ֔זֶּה ַעל־ ְמק ֹ֖מוֹ יָ ֥ב ֹא ְב ָשׁ ֽלוֹם׃ If you do this—and God so commands you—you will be able to bear up; and all these people too will go home unwearied.” ַויִּ ְשׁ ַ֥מע מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה ְל ֣קוֹל ח ֹ ְת ֑נוֹ ַו ֕יַּ ַעשׂ ֖כּ ֹל ֲא ֶ֥שׁר אָ ָמֽר׃ Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. ַויִּ ְב ֨ ַחר מ ֹ ֶ֤שׁה אַנְ ֵשׁי־ ַ֙חיִל֙ ִמ ָכּל־יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵ֔אל ַו ֵ֥יִּתּן א ֹ ָ֛תם ָרא ִ֖שׁים ַעל־ ָה ָ֑עם ָשֵׂ֤רי ֲא ָל ִפי ֙ם ָשֵׂ֣רי ֵמ ֔אוֹת ָשֵׂ֥רי ֲח ִמ ִשּּׁים ְו ָשֵׂ֥רי ֲע ָשׂ ֽר ֹת׃ Moses chose capable men out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people—chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens; ְו ָשׁ ְפ ֥טוּ ֶאת־ ָה ָ֖עם ְבּ ָכל־ ֵ֑עת ֶאת־ ַה ָדּ ָ֤בר ַה ָקּ ֶשׁ ֙ה יְ ִבי ֣אוּן ֶאל־מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ְו ָכל־ ַה ָדּ ָ֥בר ַה ָקּ ֖ט ֹן יִ ְשׁפּוּ ֥טוּ ֵהֽם׃ and they judged the people at all times: the difficult matters they would bring to Moses, and all the minor matters they would decide themselves. And let them judge… They are to judge and to determine the law according to the season and its time. The Seer of Lublin Original law codes may need to be updated and changed according to what is happening during the time and who it affects. Constitutional law

And they judged the people at all seasons… The hard cases they brought to Moses…Jethro said, every large matter, they will bring to you, while the Torah states that, “every hard case they brought to Moses.” What is the difference between the two? The answer is that Jethro knew the courts of the other nations of the world. To them, what makes a case worthy of a higher judge’s attention is when it deals with money. Moses dealt with only cases where the law was difficult to interpret and involved a great deal of money. Korban He-Ani ( ַויְ ַשׁ ַ֥לּח מ ֹ ֶ֖שׁה ֶאת־ח ֹ ְת ֑נוֹ ַו ֵיּ֥ ֶלך ֖לוֹ ֶאל־אַ ְר ֽצוֹ׃ (פ Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land. After Jethro leads the 10 commandments are given. Why do you think this is? 2. Jethro Commentary 5

שמות יח:א-כזExodus 18:1-27

ַויִּ ְשׁ ֞ ַמע יִ ְת ֨רוֹ כ ֵֹ֤הן ִמ ְדיָ ֙ן ח ֹ ֵ֣תן מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ֵא ֩ת ָכּל־ ֲא ֨ ֶשׁר ָע ָ֤שׂה ֱאל ִהי ֙ם ְלמ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה וּ ְליִ ְשׂ ָר ֵ֖אל ַע ֑מּוֹ ִכּֽי־ה ִ֧וֹציא יְהָ֛וה ֶאת־יִ ְשׂ ָר ֵ֖אל (6 ִמ ִמּ ְצָ ֽריִם׃ ַויִּ ֗ ַקּח יִ ְתר ֙וֹ ח ֹ ֵ֣תן מ ֹ ֔ ֶשׁה ֶא ִת־צפָֹּ֖רה ֵ֣א ֶשׁת מ ֹ ֶ֑שׁה אַ ַ֖חר ִשׁלּוּ ֶחֽי ָה׃ ְו ֵ֖את ְשׁ ֵ֣ני ָב ֶ֑ני ָה ֲא ֨ ֶשׁר ֵ֤שׁם ָהֽ ֶא ָח ֙ד ֵגּֽ ְר ֔שׁ ֹם ִ֣כּי אָ ֔ ַמר ֵ֣גּר ָה ֔יִ ִיתי ְבּ ֶ֖א ֶרץ נָ ְכ ִר ָיּ ֽה׃ ְו ֵ֥שׁם ָה ֶא ָ֖חד ֱא ִלי ֶ֑עזֶר ִכּֽי־ ֱאל ֵ֤הי אָ ִב ֙י ְבּ ֶעזְ ִ֔רי ַויַּ ִצּ ֵ֖לנִי ֵמ ֶ֥ח ֶרב ַפּ ְר ֽע ֹה׃ ַויָּ ֞ב ֹא יִ ְת ֨רוֹ ח ֹ ֵ֥תן מ ֹ ֶ֛שׁה -Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in…וּ ָב ָנ֥יו ְו ִא ְשׁ ֖תּוֹ ֶאל־מ ֹ ֶ֑שׁה ֶאל־ ַה ִמּ ְד ֗ ָבּר ֲא ֶשׁר־ ֛הוּא ח ֶֹנ֥ה ָ֖שׁם ַ֥הר law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the LORD had brought Israel out from Egypt. So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after she had been sent home, and her two sons—of whom one was named Gershom, that is to say, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”; and the other was named Eliezer, meaning, “The God of my father was my help, and He delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife to him in the wilderness… שופטים א:טזJudges 1:16

וּ ְלכ ֵֹ֥הן ִמ ְד ָי֖ן ֶ֣שׁ ַבע ָבּ ֑נוֹת ַו ָתּ ֣ב ֹאנָה ַו ִתּ ְד ֗ ֶלנָה ַו ְתּ ַמ ֶלּ֙אנָ ֙ה ֶאת־ ָ֣ה ְר ָה ֔ ִטים ְל ַה ְשׁ ֖קוֹת ֥צ ֹאן ֲא ִבי ֶהֽן׃ ַויָּ ֥ב ֹאוּ ָהר ִֹ֖עים ַויְגָ ְר ֑שׁוּם (7 ַו ָיּ֤ ָקם מ ֹ ֶשׁ ֙ה ַו ֣יּוֹ ִשׁ ֔ ָען ַו ַיּ֖ ְשׁ ְק ֶאת־צ ֹא ָנֽם׃ ַו ָתּ ֕ב ֹאנָה ֶאל־ ְרעוּ ֵ֖אל ֲא ִבי ֶ֑הן ַו ֕יּ ֹא ֶמר ַמ ֛דּוּ ַע ִמ ַה ְר ֶ֥תּן ֖בּ ֹא ַהיּֽוֹם׃ ַותּ ֹא ֕ ַמ ְרןָ ִ֣אישׁ ִמ ְצ ִ֔רי ִה ִצּי ָ֖לנוּ ִמ ַיּ֣ד ָהר ִֹ֑עים ְוגַם־ ָדּ ֤לה ָד ָל ֙ה ֔ ָלנוּ ַו ַיּ֖ ְשׁ ְק ֶאת־ ַה ֽצּ ֹאן׃ ַו ֥יּ ֹא ֶמר ֶאל־ ְבּנ ֹ ָ֖תיו ְו ַא ֑יּוֹ ָ֤ל ָמּה זֶּ ֙ה ֲעזַ ְב ֶ֣תּן ֶאת־ ָה ִ֔אישׁ ִק ְר ֶ֥אן ֖לוֹ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and… ְו ֥י ֹא ַכל ָלֽ ֶחם׃ filled the troughs to water their father’s flock; but shepherds came and drove them off. Moses rose to their defense, and he watered their flock. When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?” They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” He said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why did you leave the man? Ask him in to break bread.”… מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל יח:כד:בMekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 18:24:2

וישלח משה את חותנו, ר' יהושע אומר, שלחו בכבודו של עולם; ר' אלעזר המודעי אומר, נתן לו מתנות רבות; (8 שמתוך תשובה שנתן לו אתה למד, שנא' (במדבר י) אל נא תעזוב אותנו. אמר לו, אתה נתת לנו עצה טובה ועצה יפה והמקום הודה לדבריך, אל נא תעזוב אותנו. אמר לו, כלום הנר מהנה אלא במקום החושך, וכי מה הנר מהנה בין חמה ולבנה, אתה חמה, ואהרן אחיך לבנה, מה יעשה הנר ביניכם; אלא הרני הולך לארצי ואגייר לכל בני מדינתי ואביאם לתלמוד תורה ואקרבם תחת כנפי השכינה. יכול שהלך ולא עשה, ת"ל -Ibid. 27) "And Moses sent his father-in)…(שופטים א) ובני קני חותן משה עלו מעיר התמרים law": R. Yehoshua says: He sent him with gifts. R. Elazar Hamodai says: He sent him with all the honor in the world, as is seen in his (Moses') response to him, as it is written (Numbers 10:30) "I pray you, do not leave us," telling him: You gave us good and beautiful counsel, and the Lord consented to your words. "I pray you, do not leave us." Yithro replied: Is a candle of benefit other than in a place of darkness? Can sun and moon benefit from a candle? You are the sun and Aaron your brother is the moon… 6

Zevachim is the first tractate of Sefer Kodashim in the) זבחים קטז א:כ-כאZevachim 116a:20-21 Talmud)

הניחא למ"ד [יתרו] אחר מתן תורה היה אלא למ"ד [יתרו] קודם מתן תורה היה מאי איכא למימר דאיתמר בני מֹשֶׁה", (וכי) חובב היה שמו (והלא) [ולא] רעואל (היה שמו), ומה תלמוד לומר "וַתָּבֹאנָה אֶל רְ עוּאֵל אֲבִיהֶן" מלמד שהתינוקות קורים לאבי אביהם אבא. רבי שמעון בן מנסיא אומר רעואל היה שמו, ריע של אל שנאמר (שמות יח, יב): Bamidbar 10:29) "And Moses said to Chovav) …"["וַיָּבֹא אַהֲרֹן וְכֹל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָ אֵל [לֶאֱכָל לֶחֶם לִפְנֵי הָאֱלקִים (Yithro) the son of Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses": Was Chovav the father-in- law of Moses, or Reuel, viz. ( 2:8) "And they came to Reuel, their father, etc."? — (Judges 4:11) "And Chever the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, from the children of Chovav, the father-in-law of Moses" (indicates that) his name was Chovav and not Reuel. How, then, are we to understand "And they came to Reuel their father"? We are hereby apprised that the young children called their father's father "father." R. Shimon b… סנהדרין קג ב:יז-קד א:בSanhedrin 103b:17-104a:2

וַיִּחַדְּ יִתְרוֹ. אַל תִּקְרֵ י וַיִּחַדְּ אֶלָּא וַיִּהַד, שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה יְהוּדִי. וַיֹּאמֶר יִתְרוֹ בָּרוּך ה'. לָמָּה אָמַר יִתְרוֹ בָּרוּך ה'? אָמַר יִתְרוֹ: לא And.הִנַּחְתִּי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָ ה בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁלא עֲבַדְתִּיהָ, וְלא מָצָאתִי אֱלוֹהַּ כֵּאלהֵי יִשְׂרָ אֵל. עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי גָדוֹל ה' מִכָּל הָאֱלהִים Jethro rejoiced (Exod. 18:9). Do not read this word as vayihad (“and he rejoiced”) but rather vayihed (“and he became a yehudi [a Jew]”). Why did Jethro say: Blessed be the Lord (Exod. 18:10)? Jethro said: I have not neglected to worship any idol in this world, but I have found no god like the God of Israel. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods (ibid. 11). סוטה יא א:יב-יגSotah 11a:12-13

ת אמאי לא קחשיב רכב שאף כן נקרא יתרו, כדכתיב מבני רכב חותן משה, אלאי שבעה שמות היו לו. וא״יתרו פרש״ י אלא אותם שנכתבו בתורה אבל אותם דדברי קבלה לא חשיב. כהן מדין גדול היהיש לומר דלא חשיב כאן רש״ ;מ גדול היה.יתרומדהשוה הכתוב ליבין חבר, דהיינו יתרו כדכתיב כי שלום בין יבין מלך חצור ובין בית חבר הקיני ש״ “ according to Rashi he had seven names; Reuel, Yeter, Yitro, Chovav, Chever, Keyni, Petuel. If you were to ask why the name rechev is not included in this list, seeing that in Jeremiah a Jeremiah 35,2) presumably, Rashi only) בית הרכבים descendant of his is referred to as from the priest of Midian. He ,כהן מדין .referred to the names that are mentioned in the Torah itself must have been of high rank as he is compared to Yavin, King of Chatzor, as an equal. (Compare Judges 4,17) There he is called Chever. ספורנו על שמות יח:ב:אSforno on Exodus 18:2:1

אחר שלוחיה אחר ששלחה אליו לדעת איזה מקום מנוחתו, והודיע שלא ינוח עד הר האלהים ששם יעבדוהו, כמו שיעד After she .באמרו תעבדון את האלהים על ההר הזה ולפיכך אחר יתרו לבא עד היות משה ועמו שם: אחר שלוחיה (Tzipporah) had sent a message to him to find out where they were encamped. Moses had informed her that the Israelites would not stop anywhere for any length of time until they would 7 reach the mountain of G’d, Mount Chorev, where they would serve the Lord. She must have known about this as Moses must have told her of G’d’s prediction in Exodus 3,12 that once out of Egypt the Jewish people would serve the Lord there at that mountain. This is the reason why it took Yitro so long before he came as he had to wait until the Jewish people would make camp for longer than one… מדרש תנחומא, יתרו ב:אMidrash Tanchuma, Yitro 2:1

כי על כן אשר ידעת - ונתת על לב צרכנו בחנותנו במדבר. וגם היית לנו לעינים לתת לנו עצה טובה כדכתיב: וישמע while you have been with us in the desert you have ,יתרו. דוגמת: עינים הייתי לעיוור. כי על כן ידעת become as indispensable as our eyes. רש"י על שמות יח:ה:אRashi on Exodus 18:5:1

What Does Jethro Teach Us About Leadership?

1) One leader cannot do it all. 2) There are five reasons why one cannot lead by him/her self a. Wear self out b. Feel that they are indispensable- Needed by everyone c. Hubris- it’s my way or the highway d. No time for family e. Not a balanced life 3) Why should we delegate? a. It’s healthier for the community. b. People have different strengths c. Teamwork makes the dream work d. Understanding that leadership will shift and need to raise up future leadership e. Creativity with new vision f. We can’t do it all 4) Leaders become role models a. Need to model balance b. Model delegation- we are all in this together c. The most effective leaders are one’s who raise up other leaders

What are some other themes we can learn from this Parashah.

This is one of five Torah portions named after People: Jethro Korach Balak Pinchas Noach 8