Parashat Yitro Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 After leaving Egypt, Moses and the Israelites meet with Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, who reunites him with his family. Jethro observes Moses's daily schedule as chief administrator, judge and teacher of Israel and worries he is taking on too much responsibility. He advises him to delegate the responsibilities of justice and administration to different levels of leadership so disputes can resolve quickly and fairly. Negotiating personal and professional boundaries is one of the greatest challenges facing working individuals today. We live in a world that prizes productivity over patience and boundless devotion over definitive limits. Given this reality, Judaism is a counter-cultural system of belief that places boundaries on one's behavior like Kashrut and Shabbat. What is striking is that too often, we fail to recognize the need to set limits to our behaviors. It often takes an outsider to focus our attention toward constructive criticism. Parashat Yitro gives us a lesson in placing healthy boundaries on our working selves. After partaking of a feast with his father–in–law, Jethro, Moses sits in judgment among the people. Torah explains, "The people stood about Moses from morning until evening" (Exodus 18:13). Moses established himself as a true leader among the Israelites. Now, he has become the victim of his own success. Because of failing to establish clear and workable boundaries for himself, he opens himself to the potential for prophetic "burn–out." Thankfully, it is Jethro, Jewish history's first "corporate consultant," who helps Moses change the dynamic. We are told that Jethro "saw" Moses in action; he quietly observed his conscientious son-in-law at work. Only afterwards does he issue his critique in the form of a question: "What is this thing that you are doing to the people?" (Exodus 18:14). Jethro's question forces Moses to be reflective; he is compelled to turn inward. In classic leadership mode, Moses recognizes the burden before him, namely that the people are coming to him to seek God, and he is their devisor for both large and small decisions. After hearing this response, Jethro wisely proposes a plan for success: Moses will appoint talented assistants who will judge the common cases while Moses will continue adjudicating the major disputes. Jethro's strategy is masterful, and Moses' ability to listen and change is commendable. This Parasha offers us a few lessons (1) to be open to the work of knowledgeable consultants, (2) to be deliberate and sensitive in our critique as Jethro does so meaningfully, and (3) like Moses, to have the courage to open our hearts and souls to the possibility of change. None of us is indispensable in the work we do. A healthy balance in one's life leads to a healthy soul. May Moses' success in bringing more balance to his life be an inspiration for every professional who is wrestling with this very important issue.