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By Faustine Sigal, International Director of Jewish Education
Parshat Yitro
This week, we will read in synagogues one of the best-sellers of the Jewish Saga: The Ten Commandments! The name of this Torah portion is Yitro, after Moses’ father-in-law, who was a Midianite priest. Yes – At that very moment, when Jews become part of a Covenant with God, where our singularity is enshrined in stone, when we define what our vision of right and wrong is, we place ourselves under the legacy of a non-Jew. What does Yitro’s inclusion in this defining moment tell us?
I am strongly inspired by Judy Klitsner’s depiction of Yitro’s character in her book Subversive Sequels in the Bible. Moses’ life is a journey in finding himself and his leadership. On the first quest, he is assisted by several women: his mother Yocheved, his adoptive mother Bitya, and his sister Miriam. He ends up geographically and morally running away from Egypt, where he was born and raised. He finds himself in an externally physical and internally psychological desert. There, he meets Yitro. Yitro offers him sustenance, safety and support and a family. Once he has strengthened Moses inwards, he starts strengthening him outwards: Yitro mentors Moses on his road towards leadership and nation-building.
Judy Klitsner quotes an ancient midrash attributed to Elijah: “I call upon heaven and earth to bear witness that whether Jew or Gentile, whether man or woman, whether manservant or maidservant, the divine spirit rests upon one in accordance with the deeds that one performs.” (Eliyahu Rabbah 9)
May we remain on the lookout for moral inspiration and guidance, and welcome it wherever it may come from!
