| Parashat “Yitro” is this weeks Torah Portion this 24 Shevat 5784. Yitro, Hebrew for “Jethro”, was Moses father-in-law and Moses accepted his advice from his father to appoint judges. Torah: Exodous 18:1-20:23 Haftarah(Prophets): Isaiah 6:1 -7:6, 9:5-6,7 Beshora (Gospel): Mathew 19:16-26 If you were blessed like we were, your mother and father or grandmother and grandfather told you about “The Ten Commandments” from the Torah eternal for the Hebrew Israelite you are. A set of rules you could be judged for, and ideally, all mankind has a sense of it. Coming out of Egypt, a set of rules to fall back into and reform and get along with. It is worth your time to read that Parashat Yitro gives account that Yitro (“Jethro”) begins as Moses reunites with his father-in-law Yitro, then accepts his advice to appoint judges who will help rule the people with the laws of Yahweh over the Israelites. The Israelites prepare to encounter Yahweh at Mount Sinai. Yahweh descends amidst fire, smoke, thunder, and the blast of a shofar and gives the “Ten Commandments”. The Jewish Rabbi Yashua repeated and recited these same commandments from the Torah and tablets, and more even. The first time Moses came down the mountain, he smashed the stone tablets that taught….we believe, higher laws on giving and sharing to help one another at a time there was not a secular government, but religious leaders and family and tribe systems while wandering. People were too self-focussed and indulgent for that higher existence to share and care for one another, so, Moses came down with a more basic set of laws, called the Ten Commandments. 1 Yahweh and 10 Commandments for 1 Israel. The Lord our God is one (surprising? Yahwehs word says so). Yet, if you follow those laws as commandments, and have a loving, caring giving self toward one another, it follows that you do so to those who prosper and follow the same set of laws among you, and among those of your own nation of peoples. It is still our same 10 commandments. In Moses times, a “judge”, or 833 of them were not to run the White House and tell the Executive Branch what it can and can’t do like they are 833 U.S. Presidents. Rather, a judge in Moses times was to handle disputes between people and resolve on the basis of the commandments, and delegate authority to the smaller groups in lower laying domestic issues. Like parents resolving disputes between siblings, wasn’t always fair, so best to follow the Ten Commandments on your own between yourselves with a sense of love if possible. Our website below is coming along nicely, cupdates come weekly, and will feature great inspirational products you and family will love and inspiring spiritual books soon! https://www.mountainmajestyministries.com asst.rabbi@mountainmajestyministries.com |