Parashat Yitro / פרשת יִתְרוֹ
Read in the Diaspora on 6 February 2021 (24 Sh'vat 5781).
Parashat Yitro is the 17th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
Torah Portion: Exodus 18:1-20:23
Parashat Yitro / פרשת יִתְרוֹ
Read in the Diaspora on 6 February 2021 (24 Sh'vat 5781).
Parashat Yitro is the 17th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
Torah Portion: Exodus 18:1-20:23
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, shows up with Moses’ wife, Tzipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Jethro said that he heard how HaShem rescued the Children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and destroyed Pharaoh and his army who pursued the Israelites after they left Egypt’s captivity. Jethro offers sacrifices to Hashem and this is seen as Jethro, who is described as a priest of Midian, accepting Hashem as his G-d.
Jethro sees that Moses is spending his entire day acting as judge for his people’s disputes. Jethro tells Moshe Rabbeinu that he will wear both himself and his people out by being the sole judge. Jethro advises Moshe to train some elders so that they, too, can adjudicate disputes. He tells him to delegate to chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens to hear lesser cases. Moses adopts that system.
The Children of Israel then travel to the foot of Mount Sinai. G-d tells Moses to have the people prepare for three days to receive His Law. Only Moses will ascend the mountain while the people will observe. There, after the people say “All that the L-RD has spoken we will do!”, Moses receives the Ten Commandments:
1) I am the Lord thy god, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
2) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5) Honor thy father and thy mother.
6) Thou shalt not murder.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10) Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.