The Parshah relating the Revelation at Sinai and the Ten Commandments, begins with and is named after, the visit of Moses’ father in-law, Yitro. There is, famously, a dispute among the rabbis as to the timing of Yitro’s visit. Specifically, did it take place before or after the giving of the Torah. A large part of the argument hinges on the fact that Yitro, in typically Jewish fashion, no sooner has arrived than starts interfering. He disapproves of the way that Moses is single-handedly administering justice, and proposes a proper judicial system to administer the laws. This is duly accepted and implemented. The question is, what laws were being administered. If Yitro arrived after the Giving of the Torah, they were the laws contained within it. If he came before, these were existing laws, administered for the good of society. We should not be surprised by this. Law is a basic part of human society. Without a legal system, we would be no more than barbarians and society would fall apart. Indeed, the establishment of a legal system is one of the ‘seven laws of Noah’ or basic perquisites for a civilised society. The story of Yitro is written before the Torah is given, in order to demonstrate that Judaism did not invent law; it rather sanctified it. This is an important point, as Judaism is often accused of being a legalistic religion. This is negatively contrasted with other more ‘spiritual’, religions. Yet this is a badge we should wear with pride. The portion of Yitro teaches us that law is a basic prerequisite of human society. Our lives are governed by it, even in a modern liberal democracy. Everything from how we drive to what children are taught at school, is governed by rules and regulations. Surely, then, a religion that seeks to be a religion of life, relevant to our daily existence, should be a religion of law. What Judaism does is take this legal framework that governs us and uses it as a vehicle for spirituality. What could be more natural or sensible. Those who discard law in their quest for a ‘spiritual’ religion, abandon our daily lives to materialistic darkness. How we resolve disputes or behave at work or within the family, are spiritual issues that need to be ensconced in a spiritually based legal system. That is the purpose of the Torah, and underlying message of the portion of Yitro.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon	Jethro arrives with Moses‘ wives and sons and is warmly welcomed.
Sheni	Jethro gives Moses advice on setting up a judicial system.
Shelishi	Moses takes his advice.
Revi’i	G-d proposes a covenant between Himself and Israel.
Chamishi	The Jews accept the covenant and are told to prepare for Revelation. This occurs amid a volcanic eruption
Shishi	G-d speaks the Ten Commandments.
Shevi’i	The consequences of the covenant.
Haftorah	Isaiah: 6;1-7;6, 9;5-6: Isaiah’s vision of G-d.

 Sidra Statistics

Parshat Yitro

·         has 72 verses ;

·         is the 5th in Exodus, 17th in the Torah

·         shortest in Exodus, 47th longest in the Torah

·         has 3 pos + 14 neg = 17 mitzvot.