Weekly Torah Portion: Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23)
In this Torah portion, Moses tells his father-in-law, Jethro (Yitro), about the miracle of the exodus. Jethro proclaims that the Israelite God is greater than all other gods, and he makes a sacrifice. Jethro then advises Moses to delegate leadership roles in order to not tire himself out. The Israelites camp at the bottom of Mount Sinai. After three days, the mountain was fills with smoke and God delivers the Ten Commandments to His people. Read an extensive summery on My Jewish Learning
Related D’var Torah
“Covenants are the the glue that holds society together; they make lives work, and form the sturdy and foundational bonds that give life meaning.” – Rabbi Heather Miller in 2016. Read the full drash
“Across all gender boundaries, stress and doing too much, can be as dangerous as doing too little. If you neglect your own health because you are too busy “fulfilling your responsibilities,” taking care of everybody else, meeting deadlines, trying to do it all even though there are others around who could share the burdens, you are putting yourself at risk.” – Rabbi Lisa Edwards in 2015. Read the full drash
“Is yelling cultural? Instinctual? Does the impulse (or permission) to shout come in part from this week’s Torah portion, Yitro, in which the Israelites receive the dramatic verbal delivery of the Ten Commandments?” – Rabbi Lisa Edwards asked in 2014 in the Jewish Journal
“You get God’s point, and you get the message that Moses himself had to be taught – we need help, each of us, and we help, each of us – as we are able – that’s how we know we’re human beings…” – Rabbi Lisa Edwards in 2005 read the drash>
Torah Verse of the Week*
“Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8; Parashat Yitro)
Suggested Readings
Take a look at a past Telephone Torah Study on Yitro with a drash from Bracha Yael and an article by Jonathan Neril, the project manager of the Jewish Environmental Parsha Initiative, who discusses how materialism can consume the Divine in one’s life.
Jonathan Neril, the project manager of the Jewish Environmental Parsha Initiative, discusses how materialism can consume the Divine in one’s life. ‘God of Love and Material Desire: There is a Lot to Learn from the Commandment Not to Covet’ Read on My Jewish Learning
“Abraham Lincoln gave us many words to guide us in our struggle. Among them were these: ‘Most governments have been based practically on the denial of the equal rights…ours began by affirming those rights.'” – Rabbi Lisa Edwards on Marriage Equality in 2005 Read her speech
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*Torah Verse of the Week is chosen by the Torah class during Tuesdays’ studies with Rabbi Lisa Edwards. Check out when our next Torah Study takes place
