Inner Dimension Parsha Teaching

Ex 18:1--20:23(5766)

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Yitro

Exodus 18:1--20:23

1st Aliya

18:1--18:12

2nd Aliya

18:13--18:23

3rd Aliya

18:24--18:27

4th Aliya

19:1--19:6

5th Aliya

19:7--19:19

6th Aliya

19:20--20:14

7th Aliya

20:15--20:23

 

Haftarah

Isaiah

6:1--7:6, 9:5-6

 

Glossary of Names

Aharon----Aaron

 

Ba'al Tz'fon--Baal

Zephon

 

Chorev--Horeb

 

Miryam--Miriam

 

Mitzrayim----Egypt

 

Moshe---Moses

 

M'rivah--Meribah

 

Par'oh-----Pharaoh

 

R'fidim--Rephidim

 

Y'isra'el---Israel

 

Yitro--Jethro

Yitro (Exodus) 18:1...

1st Aliya

Yitro, the priest of Midyan, the father-in-law of Moshe, heard everything that Elohim did to Moshe and Yisra'el, His people--that HaShem had taken Yisra'el out of Mitzrayim.

This sidrah not only contains the "Ten Commandments", and the mention of Yitro, a former idolatrous Midianite priest is within this reading of the HaShavua. This clearly demonstrates that the Torah does not belong solely to those of Jewish descent. In fact, it is the universal law, indirectly addressed to all.

Yitro (Exodus) 18:13...

2nd Aliya

It was on the next day that Moshe sat to judge the people, and the people stood by Moshe from the morning until the evening.

Rashi notes the next day, when Moshe sat to judge the people, was the day after Yom Kippur. This phrase always implies a comparison with the previous day. Either it means that there was a marked contrast to it and/or it can imply that the good qualities of the previous day are retained.

Yitro (Exodus) 18:24...

3rd Aliya

Moshe heeded the voice of his father-in-law, and did everything he had said.

The people did not insist on receiving the judgment of the law from Moshe, their teacher. Moshe suspected that the people saw a greater opportunity in the multiplicity of judges to influence the course of justice through bribery.

Yitro (Exodus) 19:1...

4th Aliya

In the third month from the Exodus of the Children of Yisra'el from Mitzrayim, on this day, they arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai.

The climax of the Exodus is now at hand. HaShem had answered Moshes' early doubts about the worthiness of the people to be redeemed by telling him that they would prove themselves through their excitement when they finally arrived at Mount Sinai.

Yitro (Exodus) 19:7...

5th Aliya

Moshe came and summoned the elders of the people, and put before them all these words that HaShem had commanded him.

Moshe returned from the higher spheres and gathered the elders to obtain their ratification of the Covenant with HaShem. In effect, HaShem told Moshe to go and tell the people what I said and bring Me back word of their acceptance.

Yitro (Exodus) 19:20...

6th Aliya

HaShem descended upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain; HaShem summoned Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe ascended.

Rashi comments that one might infer this verse that HaShem actually descended; that is why the text later says: that I spoken to you from Heaven (20:19). This indicates that HaShem joined the upper and lower heavens and spread the over the mountains like a cover over a bed so that the Throne of Glory was able to descend upon the mountains while remaining in the heavens.

Yitro (Exodus) 20:15...

7th Aliya

The entire people saw the thunder and the flames, the sound of the shofar and the smoking mountain; the people saw and trembled and stood from afar.

Rashi comments that they actually saw what was meant to be heard, truly a unique and miraculous experience. This follows R' Akiva in the Midrash, who states that the people saw the words of fire shoot from before HaShem as they etched on the Tablet of the Law.
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