Are You Listening? - Yitro

Are You Listening?
Parshat Yitro

This week we read one of the most famous portions of the entire Torah. It is the portion of the "Aseret Hadibrot-Ten Commandments" and tells the story of the revelation of G-d Almighty at Mt. Sinai. It is the portion, of all all portions, which in essence, all other portions are connected to, by default.

The Parshah opens with the words "Vayshima Yitro-And Yitro, the priest of Midyan, the father-in-law of Moshe heard all that G-d had done for Moshe and the Jewish people, that Hashem had taken them out of Egypt".

What a verse! Jethro, a spiritual leader residing in one of the largest cities of the civilized world at that time, picked himself up and moved to the wilderness to be with the Jewish people. The question is, why would he do such a thing? He had power, fame, prestige, family and more. What compelled him to leave it all behind?

The Rashi commentary explains that Yitro was incredibly moved by (1) the story of the Exodus (2) the Splitting of Sea and (3) the war with Amalek. He saw G-d's providence and protection for His people. Yitro was inspired. He wanted to be part of this spiritual revelation. So he picked himself up and went to the desert of Sinai and became a Jew.

On a deeper level however, one may still wonder. There are inspiring and G-dly events all around us, yet, we don't just give up our lives to move to some far-remote desert to be inspired! What was it that touched Yitro so deeply?

Perhaps the answer lies in the first word of this week's portion, "VAYISHMA- and he HEARD".

How often do our spouses, children or co-workers speak to us, yet, we don't hear. Sometimes, we don't even listen. To hear something properly, is to allow the message and content, to enter our beings and consciousnesses and to become one with it. To really hear, is to become one with the thing that is heard.

Similarly. the most important prayer in Judaism has the same message. "Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad". If we want to become one with G-d, we must listen first. Yitro, listened to the message of Hashem, and wanted to become one with it. Just as when one truly listens to a beautiful symphony-where their entire being becomes engulfed with the music and flow of the experience.

The key to becoming inspired is to listen. To really, really listen to the messages and miracles that are happening right under our very noses.

Shabbat Shalom.
May Hashem watch over His people Israel, and all peace loving citizens of the world.