B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 16, 5776 / January 26, 2016

This week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the fifth Parsha in the Book of Exodus (Shmot).  In this Parsha we read about the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Yitro was Moshe’s father-in-law.  He was the priest of Midyan.  When he heard of the miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people, he decided to join them.  The Torah tells us that he also brought with him Moshe’s wife, Tziporah, and Moshe’s two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.

G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people seven weeks after the Exodus and six weeks after the splitting of the sea.  During these six weeks, they witnessed the following major miracles:

1. When they stopped in Mara, they couldn’t find water fit for drinking, for the water there was “bitter.”  G-d told Moshe to throw a branch into the water and the water miraculously became sweet.

2. Exactly one month after the Exodus, their food supply, which they brought with them when they left Egypt, was finished. For the next forty years, G-d gave them manna from heaven. Every day (except Shabbat), the manna came down and they would go out and collect their daily supply.

3. Then they came to Refidim and had no water to drink. G-d told Moshe to take his staff and strike a certain rock. Moshe did so and water came flowing from the stone. This rock traveled with them throughout their forty years in the desert and supplied them with all the water they needed.

4. While still in Refidim, Amalek waged war against the Jewish people.  Moshe sent his faithful servant and student, Yehoshua (Joshua), to fight the Amalekites.  While Yehoshua and his men fought the physical battle, Moshe helped them, through his prayers, to win the battle.

G-d wanted to demonstrate to the Jewish people an eternal lesson, that He is the One Who sustains them. Thus, dedicating time for Torah study each day will not diminish from their material needs.

Q. The Torah tells us that when Moshe went to Egypt to command Pharaoh to let the people go, he took his wife and children with him. Where were they all this time?

A. On his way to Egypt Moshe met up with his brother Aaron, whom he didn’t see for many years, since the time Moshe escaped from Egypt. He introduced his wife, Tziporah, and children to Aaron. 

Aaron wasn’t pleased.  “We are trying to get our brethren, who are already in Egypt out of there and you’re bringing your family into Egypt?”

Moshe realized that Aaron was right.  He sent his wife and children back to her father, Yitro, while he continued on with Aaron to perform their G-dly mission to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt.  Now, it was Yitro’s turn to bring Moshe’s wife and their two children with him to Moshe. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY