B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 13, 5785 / February 11, 2025

Highlights of this week’s Parsha, Yitro, in which we will read about the Giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah.

The Parsha begins with the story of how Yitro, who resided in Midyan, upon hearing of the miracles which G-d performed for Moshe and the Jewish people, decided to join them. He also brought with him his daughter, Moshe’s wife, Tziporah, and her two sons, who, as explained yesterday, stayed with Yitro when Moshe returned to Egypt.

Q.  What were Moshe’s children’s names?

A.  The older one was, Gershom. “Gershom” is a combination of two words, “Ger–shom,” which means a “stranger” (Ger) I was “there” (Shom). The Torah explains that Moshe named him Gershom, because Moshe had run away from Egypt and was a stranger in a foreign land when Gershom was born.

Moshe’s second son, Eliezer, is also a combination of two words; “Eli-Ezer, which means “My G-d” (Eli) “Is my help” (Ezer).

Q.  Which factor caused G-d to give the Torah to the Jewish people when they came to Mount Sinai?

A.  When the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai, there was great unity among them, as never before.  In the words of our sages, “They were as one person with one heart."  As a result, G-d gave them the Torah. Peace and unity amongst us brings holiness and G-dliness.

Q.   Why did G-d choose Mount Sinai as the mountain upon which to give the Torah?

A.  Our sages explain that Mount Sinai was one of the lowest mountains.  Rather than giving the Torah on a taller and more distinguished mountain, G-d chose Mount Sinai. G-d wanted to teach the Jewish people that Torah is acquired and internalized only through humility.

This is also the reason that Torah is compared to water. Just as water will always flow to a lower level, so too Torah is found with those who are humble.

Unity and humility go together. Strife and intolerance is caused by selfishness and haughtiness.  When the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai and realized that this particular mountain was chosen by G-d because it is a small mountain, they too practiced humility, which brought them to unity! 

Humility is the key to unity! The Rabbi of Koshnitz would say, "If all of Israel would join hands together in unity they would blend into one big hand which would reach all the way to the Heavenly Throne and bring down many many blessings!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW