As I am writing this, the news from Eretz Yisrael is nerve wracking. This past week has been like a roller-coaster of good and bad. There was President Trump’s announcement of his plans for Gaza, which came as a complete surprise! Empty Gaza of all the people (read: terrorists), clear it out, and rebuild from scratch.
The Arabs, of course rejected it, and the Left (especially in Israel) are trying to figure out how this is a terrible idea. The idea sounds like a dream for the Right! Then there was the release of the three hostages on Shabbos, and when everyone saw their terrible state, the levels of anxiety and worry for the rest of the hostages rose drastically, leading to more arguing over what is the correct course of action. And now Hamas announced that the ceasefire is on hold, Israel’s not sure what to do, Trump threatens Hamas… All very confusing.
There’s the famous question. Why is so much honor given to Yisro, that this parsha is called by his name? And why is this parshah positioned right before the giving of the Torah?
We would like to answer this from the Zohar (found near the beginning of parshas Yisro). It says: Pharoh ruled over the entire world, with many kings under him. At first, he had denied Hashem’s power - who is Hashem that I should listen to him? When he began to receive the makos, he was forced to admit, “Hashem hatzadik, and I and my nation are evil.” All the kings under him also made that declaration. (They were forced to make this announcement, bitterly, but they said it with honesty.) Then, along came Yisro, who was originally a great master of all the avodah zaras in the world. He had tried them all, but came to the conclusion that serving Hashem was the correct path. When he heard about all the miracles, he came to join Bnei Yisrael and said, “Now I know that Hashem is greater than all the avoda zaras.” After that statement, when all powers in the world, above, and below, the physical (Pharoh and his armies) and the spiritual (Yisro’s conclusions) admitted that Hashem is the only power in the world, could Hashem give the Torah in its completeness.
Parshas Yisro is positioned right before Matan Torah for this reason. The belief system, or the culture and ideas, of a country are more significant than the physical might of it. A country could be gone, but its culture can continue. There was a need to defeat all the opposing cultures in order for the Torah to be given, and that’s what Yisro accomplished.
Yisro decided to join Bnei Yisrael after hearing about Kriyas Yam Suf and the war with Amalek. How’d he hear?
By Kriyas Yam Suf, the waters split all around the world. Also, a huge noise that came from the actual splitting was heard far and wide.
The war with Amalek is very likely that he heard about it from Amaleki survivors returning from the war. They had brought with them many magicians, sorcerers, and a huge army, intending to embarrass and desecrate Hashem through hurting Klal Yisrael. They lost, and following Hashem’s instructions, Yehoshua killed the leaders and mighty warriors, only allowing the weaklings to escape. They told it over, and Yisro heard.
Amalek achieved the opposite of what they wanted, which was anyone, in this case Yisro, wanting to go and join Klal Yisrael. He received tremendous honor when he arrived. Moshe went to greet him. Ahron followed, followed by his sons Nadav and Avihu, who were then followed by the entire nation! Picture it. They all came out to greet Yisro! Word spread about this to everyone, to all the nations. It was amazing for them to hear about how a non-Jew came and was able to convert and join, and not just remain an outsider.
Here’s a story to illustrate this point. There is an English woman, Jewish by birth, whose parents were part of a cult. She knew that she was Jewish, and as she grew older, she wanted to know more about it but didn’t know how to. One day, some cult members came back from their outing, all laughing. What was the joke? They had been in an area where there a Chabad rabbi asking people if they were Jewish, and if they were, he gave them booklets discussing Judaism. These cult-members had lied and said, “yeah we’re Jewish,” and received some booklets. They took advantage of the rabbi, making a fool out of him! She quietly took the booklets, read them, contacted Chabad, and was able to get out with Chabad’s help - the opposite of what they wanted happened!
There were many ways of understanding the mindset of those who served avoda zara. Some believed that Hashem created the world and left. Others believed that He’s there, but doesn’t care what about goes on, among other beliefs. Either way, there is definitely no one in charge. No din, no dayan - no justice and no judge. No hashgachah (divine intervention) at all; everything is a free for all, with the strongest coming out on top. That was Amalek’s belief, and part of what they wanted to remove from the world by attacking B’nei Yisrael.
By that battle, everyone, including Amalek, saw Moshe holding up his hands and praying, and they understood that things were not randomly happening. They understood that they had no power against Hashem. This destroyed their belief and power. Their swords were powerless next to B’nei Yisrael’s power, Hashem.
Also, Yisro saw the divine trait of midah k’neged midah, a measure for measure (Shemos 18:11). He knew Pharoh’s intentions and plans from the very beginning. He was there, protested, and then ran away to escape the madness. He heard the Mitzriim drowned, and understood the midah kneged midah from when they drowned the Jewish babies. He saw the hashgacha at work, and knew with certainty there was no other power in the world except for Hashem!
Rav Yisrael Elya Weintraub zts”l brings from the Vina Gaon that the purpose of the Torah in this world is to bring to the realization that everything is from Hashem, emunah and bitachon in Hashem.
The Torah says this in parshas Va’eschana: Ata hareisa la’da’as…ein old milvado. You’ve been shown to know that He is Hashem, there is no one else besides for Him! Rashi explains the skies opened by Har Sinai and they all saw clearly there is only one Hashem. Chazal say the appearance they saw was of a kind and merciful elder.
I would like to suggest that when Yisro said, “Now I know that Hashem is greater…,” he meant greater than all the forms of how Hashem could have appeared. The appearance which Klal Yisrael saw was of mercy. This taught them that everything, even what appeared as terrible, was really wonderful. Everything was done exclusively for their benefit.
Yisro realized there is no power besides for Hashem, physical or spiritual. He saw the other powers defeated to come to that realization. And now that he merited to exemplify it, the Torah could be given to the world in its fullness. This is one reason why Yisro received the honor of the parshah being called by his name.
A life of Torah, with emunah and bitachon is simply the best! Everything that happens is only from Hashem. One could live worry free; everything is in His hands! And with this knowledge, we can appreciate more being a Torah Jew, having Hashem’s instruction manual to the best life in this world.
Rav Yechetzkel Levenstien zts”l (Reb Chatzkel) was the Mashgiach in yeshivas Ponovez, Bnei Brak. One day he entered the office and found the staff with a new machine they had just received, and they were searching for something among all the wrappings. He asked them what they were looking for, and they responded, “The instruction manual.” He asked, “How do you know it came with one?” They answered, “Every responsible manufacturer includes one. How else would you know how to use the machine?!” Reb Chatzkel gave a bang on the desk and declared, “This is a proof that the Torah was given on Har Sinai!” They all looked at him, “Rebbi, we’re missing something here. What do you mean?” He explained, “Is it possible that the creator of this world would leave it without any instruction manual? There must be one. Where is it?” He held up a Chumash, “Here it is! For best results in life, follow the instructions and use as directed!”
Many of the families of the hostages, and the hostages themselves have said that emunah and bitachon are the only tools they have to get through these difficult times.
Who knows what’s going to be? But with emunah and bitachon in Hashem, using the Torah hakedoshah as our guide, we can only have amazing results! May we merit to greet Mashiach very soon!
Based upon shiurim heard from Rav Yisrael Altusky shlita, Yeshiva Torah Ore, Yerushalayim. Shiurim can be heard on Kol Halashon website.
By R’ Dovi Chaitovsky
