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February 2004

Alisha Goodman, LMSW, Deputy Director for Program Operations

Yitro

This month, one of the parshot is Yitro. Several momentous events occur in this parsha. In the first half, after Moses meets up with his father-in-law Yitro, his wife and his sons, Yitro helps him establish a system of judges, both for his own good as well as that of the people. A few verses later, Yitro establishes some guidelines in order to choose the men who should be judges. His qualifications include men of accomplishment, G-d fearing people, men of truth and people who despise money. His actions and statements in this section can teach us many lessons. For example, it is important for our leaders and the community that a fair and workable system is in place. Second, Yitro indicates that we need to expect certain standards from our leaders. Along with that, it is necessary to be specific about what we think should be their qualifications.

In the second half of the parsha, a momentous event happens in the lives of the people of Israel. G-d descends Mount Sinai and appears before all of the people, full of thunder and lightening, accompanied by the sound of the shofar. "The entire people that was in the camp shuddered" as G-d descended in fire and with smoke; the mountain shuddered as well.

As the Israelites stood around the mountain, each "saw" a slightly different sight, enabling each person to have a unique relationship with G-d’s presence, and therefore with G-d. However, because this encounter happens to the entire community at once, there is also a communal aspect of G-d’s revelation and connection to the Israelites. Carrying this thought through to present day, we can understand that each person still can have a unique relationship to G-d while enveloped in our communal one. Moreover, that unique relationship with G-d can change depending on our place in our own lives and depending on our place in our own personal spiritual journey.

The parsha ends with Moses ascending the mountain, speaking to G-d, and descending to the people. Moses then gave them the Ten Commandments, as G-d had decreed that he should do. We end therefore, like we began — establishing a system of governance and order for the community. As professionals and lay leaders, this theme can encourage us to be part of creating a system that is beneficial to society, a system that promotes order and fairness — and is fair to our leaders as well.

These "Spirituality Notes" are excerpts from our monthly E-newsletter. Articles are © JBFCS Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs and may be reprinted free of charge as long as this credit line is included.

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