בּ"ה
Parshas Yisro
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‘And Yisro, priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moshe, heard all that G-d did for Moshe and for Israel. . .’ (Shemos 18:1)
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Rashi zt”l quotes from Chazal (Zevachim 116a) that the things that Yisro heard about were Yetzias Mitzraim and the war with Amalek.
Many commentators ask; didn’t just about everyone else also hear what Hashem had done for Klal Yisroel? It was wondrous stuff! What was unique about Yisro’s hearing that the Torah emphasizes it?
Rebbe Dovid of Lelov zt”l explained that whereas others merely heard of the occurences, and just went back to their regular everyday life afterwards, Yisro heard about the miracles that Hashem did for the Jews, and he drew conclusions for himself from them.
(Maayanah Shel Torah; Shemos, p. 78)
Similarly, HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l says that most others, when they heard about the great miracles Hashem wrought for us, they did not perceive them as so “close to home”, but rather, as things that did not really have to do with them personally. Whereas Yisro heard about what Hashem did for us, and he heard it on a higher level, meaning that he understood that it also affected him personally. (Darash Moshe to 18:1).
And likewise, the Zohar HaKadosh poses our question, and answers that everyone else heard and were not broken, but Yisro heard and was broken, and therefore, came close to the service of Hashem. And HaRav Meir Aryeh Segal zt”l explains that what this means is that the difference was that Yisro, unlike most others, actually contemplated and put his heart to these wonders that he heard, and therefore, he was humbled, and returned to Hashem. (Imrei Daas p. 51).
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In another alike elucidation, HaRav Eliyahu Lopian zt”l explains that the wicked in general follow the visions of their heart, doing whatever they see fit, regardless of whether it is right or not, and even if they were to hear the absolute truth very clearly, they would often be too intent and wallowed in their desires, that they would not even feel it!
However, Yisro, Chazal tell us (Mechilta, Yisro 1) had first experimented with all forms of idol worship, and then afterwards he converted to Judaism. This means that he was a truth-seeker. He would think that the true path was with one idol, but then, he would find out its worthlessness, and discard it, and then go to the next. But since he actually sought the truth, Hashem helped him to find it.
Now, when Yisro heard about the splitting of the sea and the miraculous war with Amalek, he realized that somebody can even see, hear or know about, the biggest miracles out there, such as Kriyas yam suf, but if they don’t take any positive action afterwards from them, they can still remain unchanged and even ignore something so clear as day -- like Amalek did! So after discovering the real truth and hearing about the miracles, Yisro took action.
(Lev Eliyahu, vol. 1, p. 104, brought in Levush Yosef; Shemos, p. 93-94)
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‘Now I know that Hashem is greater than all the gods, for in the matter that they plotted against them.’ (Shemos 18:11)
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In accord with the translation of Targum Onkelos, Rashi zt”l brings from Mechilta that the ending statement of Yisro referred to the fact that the Egyptians plotted to destroy us with water, and they ended up being destroyed in water.
Based upon this, the Brisker Rav {HaRav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l} expounds the meaning of our verse further, by quoting a story: It is related that HaRav Yitzchok of Volozhin zt”l was once asked by a Russian government official, what does the verse in Tehillim mean ‘Laud Hashem, all peoples; praise Him, all nations, for His kindness has been strong upon us’ -- why would the nations praise Hashem for His kindnesses to the Jews?! Rav Yitzchok replied, we Jews don’t know what is plotted against us in the inner ministry circles in Petersburg [then the capital city of Russia], just Hashem thwarts. Only you non-Jews know the extent of Hashem’s great kindnesses upon us, because He prevents you from ever carrying out a lot of the wicked plans that you plotted against us! Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to praise Him, for you see His strong hand even more so.
Back to our passuk, Chazal tell us (Sanhedrin 106) that Yisro had once been one of the advisors of Paroah, during the formulations of the plans to harm the Jews.1 It thus emerges that Yisro knew of all the plots that were formulated against Klal Yisroel, but ended up not being able to be carried out. Regarding this he said ‘Now I know that Hashem is greater. . . for in the matter that they plotted against them’ -- because he saw that Hashem had punished the Egyptians measure for measure for even the things that they plotted and wanted to do against the Jews, but were unable!
(Chiddushei Rabbeinu HaGriz Soloveitchik al HaTorah #58)
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1 He fled from this position, Chazal teach further.
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‘And Israel encamped (ויחן) there, opposite the mountain.’ (Shemos 19:2)
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From the singular verb for encampment, ויחן, we derive that when Klal Yisroel encamped at Har Sinai, they were all united, like one man with one heart -- כאיש אחד בלב אחד (Rashi zt”l from Mechilta).
Obviously, it is of utmost importance to outwardly behave kindly and respectfully to others. But says HaRav Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l, implied in the above comment from Rashi, we see that that is not even enough. We must also entrench the love and care for others in our heart!
(Sichos Mussar, p. 157)
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‘And you shall sanctify them today and tomorrow’ (Shemos 19:10)
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HaRav Yosef Patzanovski zt”l comments: Not just at the time of Matan Torah you should sanctify yourselves, but you should continue to strive to do so even ‘tomorrow’, i.e. afterwards.
(Pardes Yosef; Shemos, 19:10)
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COMMANDMENT #4: ‘Remember the day of Shabbos to sanctify it.’ (Shemos 20:8)
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The Gemara (Beitzah 16a) relates that HaKadosh Baruch Hu told Moshe Rabbeinu, “I have a good gift in My treasure house, and ‘Shabbos’ is its name, and I want to give it to Israel.”
HaRav Gedaliah Schorr zt”l expounds an incredible thing from this Gemara: When Hashem granted us the Shabbos, He did not take it out of His treasure house and bring it down to us. Rather, on Shabbos, He takes us up into His treasure house to be able to experience the Shabbos!
(Ohr Gedalyahu)
This idea is perhaps sharpened by what we find in Osios D’Rabbi Akiva (Alef #3): At the time of Matan Torah, Hashem said to the Bnei Yisroel that He has something very good, and He will give it to us if we accept His Torah and keep His Mitzvos. Bnei Yisroel asked what it was, to which Hashem replied “Olam HaBah (The World to Come).” Bnei Yisroel then asked Hashem to please show them some likeness of Olam HaBah, and He acquiesced, answering that that likeness is Shabbos, which is like a small bit of the World to Come!
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COMMANDMENT #10: ‘You shall not covet the house of your fellow; you shall not covet the wife of your fellow, and his servant, and his maidservant, and his ox, and his donkey, and anything that is your fellow’s.’ (Shemos 20:14)
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The Ibn Ezra zt”l brings up the practical question; many people wonder about this Commandment; how can it be that a person will not covet a beautiful thing in their heart?
B’Ezras Hashem, let us bring some nice answers to this question:
1) --- Ibn Ezra zt”l: If a villager who has common sense were to see the royal princess, and observe how beautiful she is, he wouldn’t covet to be with her, because he knows that that would just be impossible.
So too every intelligent person needs to know that good stuff does not come to a person because of their great knowledge, etc. They only come because Hashem apportioned them to that specific person. And once one knows that Hashem has forbidden to him the wife of his fellow, she will be more exalted [i.e. out of reach] in his eyes than the princess in the heart of the villager!
Therefore, he should rejoice in his portion and not think to covet nor desire something that is not his, because he knows that Hashem did not wish to give it to him. . .
2) ----- Bnei Yissaschar {Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov zt”l}: We must realize that Hashem is the only one Who truly knows what is best for each and every person -- including us. With this mind, we will certainly not come to covet what He bestowed upon our fellow, because clearly, He knew it wasn’t best for us to have it! (Igra D’Kallah vol. 1, p. קעד).
Similarly, HaRav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler zt”l says that if we would develop the proper outlook on life, that all possessions are really tools for our service of Hashem, then we would not have anything to covet! Because each person is given the tools that they need for their individual job in life. And the things our fellow has been allotted, clearly are what specifically they need for their task on this earth, but won’t even benefit us to have! (Michtav M’Eliyahu 1:136).
3) ----- HaRav Yaakov Galinsky zt”l: Why is the language of the passuk so lengthened, with all the specifics -- ‘the house of your fellow’, ‘the wife of your fellow’, etc. when it ends with ‘and anything that is your fellow’s’, which includes everything?
The answer, though, is that what happens is a person looks at the possessions of their fellow and covets them: Whether it be the ‘house of their fellow’ -- their villa, the garden around it. . . or ‘the donkey of their fellow’ -- in modern day, the new car they have. And we think to ourselves, “It isn’t right that they have this and I don’t!”
But the response to this thought process is that really, it isn’t right for you that you get the person’s house and car, and also keep everything you have in your special portion: Your good health, your happy family, and the other blessings you have. Rather, if you desire something of your fellow’s, get up and exchange everything with him! Take his car -- but with his ulcers and headaches, the trouble in his house, etc.
This is what the Torah means to tell us when it says ‘and anything that is your fellow’s’ -- don’t look at one specific thing or another; look at everything that your fellow has, and you will not covet anything. (Brought in Sefer L’Hisaneig B’Saanugim).
4) ----- Beis HaLevi {HaRav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of Brisk zt”l}: If a person was walking across a frozen river on the layer of ice formed over it, and then suddenly, their foot slipped, and they thought that they were going to fall and crash into the freezing river below -- certainly at that moment, from their intense fear of falling, any and every thought of desire and covetousness is nullified and forgotten! For so is the nature of a human being; a little bit of fearfulness removes all the strengths of a desire.
Now, if we would have even a bit of the fear felt in the above scenario for Hashem and of transgressing His Commandments, then we would not covet things. (Beis HaLevi al HaTorah).
5) ----- HaRav Akiva Eiger zt”l (brought in At Home With Torah p. 136)2: We say every day in Aleinu ‘בּשמים ממעל ועל הארץ מתּחת’ -- ‘In the Heavens above, and upon the earth below’: This verse teaches us that what applies to spiritual matters (בּשמים), we should look to those above us (ממעל) and strive to be like them. What has to do with earthly matters (על הארץ), though, we should look at those who have less than us (מתּחת) and be thankful that we have more than that.
With this in mind, jealousy becomes somewhat easier to combat!
6) ----- Tal U’Matar: Perhaps this comes to teach us that in all areas of our life, we truly can master and rule over even our deepest rooted feelings and emotions!
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2 Extremely similar thoughts to this one are said by other Gedolim.
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There are 72 verses in this Parsha. This is the Gematria of the word חסד (kindness). This alludes to the great kindness HaKadosh Baruch Hu did for us by giving us the Ten Commandments, the rest of the Torah, of course, and choosing us as His Special People.
(Tal U’Matar)
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~ Maasim Tovim ~
COMMANDMENT #5: ‘Honor your father and your mother’ (Shemos 20:12)
It is related that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Eilam zt”l was once told in a dream that he should rejoice in his heart because his dwelling and portion in Gan Eden were equal with Nanas the Butcher.
When he awoke from his sleep, he said “Woe is me! For since the day I was born, I have always been in fear of my Maker, and I have had no toil except in Torah, and I have not walked four cubits without Tefillin and Tzitzis, and I have 80 students -- and my deeds and my Torah [study] are being equated with a butcher!”
He sent for his students and told them, “You should know that I cannot enter to the Beis Midrash until I see who is this man [that I saw in my dream] and what his deeds are that he is my partner in Gan Eden.”
So he and his students went from city to city asking inquiring after Nanas, until they came to the city where he lived, and they began asking, “Where is Nanas the Butcher?” The people replied to Rav Yehoshua; “Why do you seek him? You are a pious and righteous person and you ask about a man like him?” Rav Yehoshua asked them; “What are his deeds?” They said to him, “Our master, you should not ask anything from us until you see him.”
They sent for Nanas and said to him, “Rabbi Yehoshua is calling you.” He replied that who were he and his ancestors that Rabbi Yehoshua should call him? They said to him, “Stand up and go with us.” Nanas thought they were lying to him, and he told them that he would not go with them, because they were making fun of him.
The people returned to Rav Yehoshua and told him that Nanas did not wish to come with them. He replied that he would not sit down until he saw him.
So Rav Yehoshua himself went to Nanas. When the butcher saw him, he stood up and fell on his face and asked him essentially what special day it was that the “crown of Israel” had come before him. Rav Yehoshua replied that he had a word to speak with him. “Speak.” said Nanas.
“What are your deeds and what is your work?” “My master,” Nanas replied, “I am a butcher and I have a father and a mother who are old and they are not able to stand upon their feet, and every day I dress them and feed them and bathe them with my [own] hands.”
Immediately, Rav Yehoshua stood up and kissed him on the head, and said, “My son, fortunate are you and fortunate is your lot, how good and how pleasant and fortunate is my lot, that I merited to be your partner in Gan Eden. . .”
(Sefer HaMaasiyos)
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Gut and meaningful Shabbos to all!
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