Delayed Gratitude

Parshas Yisro

Posted on February 4, 2021 (5781) By Mordechai Dixler | Series: Lifeline | Level: Beginner

After the great miracles of the Exodus — the splitting of the sea, the falling of the Manna, and the Jewish victory when attacked by the Amalek nation — Yisro (Jethro), Moshe’s father-in-law, was so impressed by this evidence of G-d’s love for His nation that he traveled into the desert to join them, to become one of them.

 

Upon his arrival, Moshe recounted to Yisro all that had transpired. To this Yisro responded, “Blessed is G-d, who saved you from the hand of Egypt and Pharaoh!” The Talmud comments that no one said “Baruch Hashem” (Blessed is G-d) before Yisro.

 

“Baruch Hashem” is essentially an expression of thanks to G-d. Was Yisro really the first to thank G-d? The Torah recounts numerous instances when the Patriarchs and others gave thanks as well. Moshe and Miriam led the Jewish People (separately) in singing praises to G-d after the sea split and the pursuing Egyptians were drowned. What, then, was unique about Yisro’s expression of thanks?

 

Those who preceded Yisro were thankful, but they only expressed their thanks immediately after they were personally favored with G-d’s goodness. The moment of deliverance overwhelmed them with a sense of gratitude, and they recognized G-d as the source of their blessing. Yisro’s special expression of thanks came long after the splitting of the sea, possibly many months later [and in addition, he was not there himself to witness it]. He was the first to give thanks after the excitement of the moment had abated. He showed we should be no less thankful, and express our thanks even for kindnesses of the past. (Based on a weekly Maamar of HaRav Moshe Sternbach)

 

As any self-help book will tell you, gratitude is an essential ingredient of happiness. The challenge is to be thankful even when life appears to be unkind to us. To keep ourselves in good spirits, it is crucial to maintain a feeling of gratitude for previous kindnesses, even many years after they happened — for that feeling will help us pass through what may seem to be darker times.

 

We must also be thankful for G-d’s daily gifts, which are so common that we may not think about them. The simple ability to breathe is a constant gift. Tragically, the Covid virus, one that can severely infect the lungs and impair breathing, has taught all of us not to take steady breathing for granted. So this, too, is a constant reason to give thanks.

 

In reality, we should constantly be giving thanks for the gifts given to us at every moment, but routine would quickly drain this of all meaning. We owe it to G-d and to ourselves, nonetheless, to express our thanks for the commonplace at least periodically, and to recall the gifts of the past as well.

 

Judaism incorporates gratitude into our daily prayers: “Modim,” in particular, is both an essential part of the Amida, the standing prayer, and a beautiful expression of thanks (in translation, its text may be found here). It is important both religiously and psychologically that we teach ourselves not to merely recite, but to deeply feel its words.

 

And we owe our thanks to Yisro for teaching mankind this meaningful lesson!

 

The post Delayed Gratitude appeared first on Project Genesis, Leaders in Online Jewish Learning.

 

A Welcome Introduction

Parshas Yisro

Posted on February 8, 2023 (5783) By Rabbi Berel Wein | Series: Rabbi Wein | Level: Beginner

It is well known that there is a difference of opinion as to whether Yitro’s arrival in the camp of Israel in the desert occurred before or after the revelation and granting of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Even if we say that Yitro arrived before the momentous event of Mount Sinai and that the Torah is recording events in a chronological manner, it still is difficult for us to understand.

 

Why is this most important event in Jewish history as outlined for us in the Torah, be preceded by a rather mundane description of Yitro’s arrival and reception in the camp of Israel? Would it not be more effective to highlight the revelation at Sinai immediately at the beginning of the parsha? And this appears to be especially true since the parsha goes into great detail and some length in describing the circumstances and experience of the revelation at Sinai.

 

Why is there such an apparent emphasis on Yitro and his arrival? And this question certainly is even more difficult if we adopt the opinion that the revelation at Sinai occurred before the arrival of Yitro. It almost seems that by recording for us the entire story of the arrival of Yitro the Torah somehow diminishes, in emphasis and focus, the narrative regarding the revelation at Sinai itself.

 

If there ever was a stand-alone event in Jewish and in world history it certainly would be the moment of the revelation and granting of the Torah at Mount Sinai. So what is the story of Yitro doing being involved in the immortal narrative of the most seminal event in human history?

 

We are all aware of the great dictum of the Talmud that proper worldly behavior precedes the Torah itself. The order of the subjects in this week’s parsha reinforces this idea clearly and cogently. The Torah records for us the politeness, courtesy, respect and sensitivity extended to Yitro by Moshe and Aaron and the Elders of Israel and all of the Jewish people when he arrived in their midst.

 

The Torah indulges in great detail in describing the reception that Yitro received. Simple courtesy extended to a stranger is the basis of the Jewish value system. It is what separated Abraham from Sodom. The Ten Commandments and in fact the entire Torah itself cannot be understood or appreciated without a grounding in this basic idea of the worth of the human being and of the necessity to honor, welcome and help of one another.

 

That is why we are not to be murderers, robbers, adulterers, lying witnesses or people of greed and avarice. The Talmud places great emphasis on the small things in life that make for a wholesome society. It records for us in great solemnity that one of the great virtues of the leading scholars of Torah of its day was that they greeted everyone, no matter who that person was, in pleasantness.

 

This value is emphasized over and over again in the writings of the great men of Israel, throughout the generations. Therefore the welcome to Yitro must inevitably precede the law of the Torah itself for it is the value upon which the Torah itself is based.

 

No Justice No Place

Parshas Yisro

Posted on June 7, 2002 (5783) By Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky | Series: Drasha | Level: Beginner

The Jewish judicial system was brought into existence after Moshe’s father-in-law Yisro criticized the system he felt was wrought with confusion and delay. In that system, Moshe bore the brunt of every minor complaint and grievance. He ruled on everything, and it was too much for him. His father-in-law would no longer allow it.

 

“What you are doing is no good.” cried Yisro. “You and the entire nation will wither from exhaustion.” (Exodus 18:17)

 

Yisro devised a plan in which judges were appointed on many levels. The simple cases would be presented to the lower judges, and the more difficult cases would work their way up the system until they finally reached Moshe. It was a workable plan that was received enthusiastically by Moshe and the leadership. It was the foundation for every judicial system from that time on.

 

Yisro ends his ingenious instruction with a blessing and an assurance. “If you do this thing — with G-d’s consent, then you will endure and the entire nation will arrive at their place in peace.” (Exodus 18:23)

 

They are very encouraging words. But they are difficult to relate to. What does expedient adjudication have to do with arriving at one’s destination or finding one’s place? What could Yisro mean by stating that if you mete out justice everyone will arrive at his place in peace? He should have said, “and the entire nation will live together in peace.” The words “arrive at his place in peace” seem to have little meaning.

 

Rabbi Chaim Kreisworth, the Chief Rabbi of Antwerp, Belgium, tells of a member of his congregation who approached him obviously quite upset.

 

“Rabbi,” he exclaimed, “I just don’t understand.” My friend Yankel and I began businesses of the same type at approximately the same time. He is doing remarkably well, while I am just floundering!.” “Are you working as hard as he is?” Rabbi Kreisworth asked.

 

“I sure am!” came the reply. “My place is right down the block from his, and I never close my shop until I see his car pull away!”

 

“Perhaps he has more employees?”

 

“Can’t be. I checked with his manager, and I have recently added two more than he has!”

“Perhaps the decor of his store is more attractive to consumers?”

 

“It just can’t be that, Rabbi. He remodeled last year, I checked the lighting, square footage, display cases — and on each count I outdid him when I remodeled a month later!”

 

At this point Rabbi Kreisworth smiled, “I have it all figured out. The reason Yankel is doing so much better than you is because he is only concerned in running his business. You, my friend, are running two! If you would just stay in your own place, you will also become a success.”

 

One of the Jewish people’s greatest assets is their ability to watch their own place. “How glorious are your tents, Jacob” is a reference to the dessert tents whose doorways did not face each other. When Jews argue and there is no justice, each one looks at the other: “what is he doing with my money?” However, when quick and fair justice is meted, each party can go home satisfied and ready to proceed with their own life. Yisro stated it with an exact certainty “and the entire nation will arrive at their place in peace.” If you have justice then everyone will truly arrive at his place in peace. No one will be interested in someone else’s place! And in that manner they all can find a place in peace.