spirit

torah portion

Heed Good Advice

M

Parshat Yitro: Exodus
18:1-20:23; Isaiah
6:1-7:6; 9:5-6.

oses was the greatest
leader of our people. He
was also the most humble.
He gave up a life of comfort and
freedom as an Egyptian prince to
liberate an enslaved people for no
other reason than it was the right
thing to do. He received no reward.
He did not even make it into
the Promised Land.
kaved, heavy, are grammati-
One reason for his great-
cally related. Help others be
ness was his willingness
good parents. Help people
to listen to advice from
take care of their parents.
his father-in-law, Yitro,
Help parents take care of
who greeted him after the
their children. Help people
Hebrews left Egypt. Yitro
make their burdens lighter.
was a Midian priest and a
Finally, he taught Moses,
great leader of his people. He Rabbi Aaron
“No matter how right you
spoke to Moses with wisdom Bergman
think you are, people are
and compassion. Moses lis-
going to be different from
tened and took his advice.
you. They will have differ-
Yitro taught Moses three
ent beliefs and values. They
things that became of invaluable
may not join you. You will have to
help during the wandering in the
learn how to respect that and deal
wilderness.
with it in a healthy way.”
First, he told Moses to get help
Yitro does not stop being a
in judging and ruling the people.
Midianite priest and does not join
The word in Hebrew that Yitro uses
the Jews, but the portion is still
here is kaved, heaviness. He said,
named after him because of his
“You can’t do it yourself. It’s bad
depth of wisdom
for you, it is kaved, too heavy. It is
The Ten Commandments are only
bad for your people, and it’s bad for
given after Moses takes this advice.
the next generation. Look for good
These are the challenges for the
people, look for the good in people,
Jewish people today — and for all
and train them in what they need to
people. Are we going to trust each
do for their generation. Learn from
other? Are we going to celebrate or
them, too.”
at least accept our differences? Are
Second, he said, “You have to trust we going to help each other?
people to do the right thing, even
The answers we give will decide
when you do not have control over
whether we have a future for our chil-
them.”
dren that they can rejoice in or one
This is echoed later in the Ten
that leads them back to Egypt. •
Commandments with the com-
Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom
mandment to honor one’s parents.
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
Kibud av v’eim. Kibud, honor, and

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February 16 • 2017

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