This Week’s Torah Portion: Yitro – יִתְרוֹ (Exodus 18:1–20:23)
וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־מִצְרָֽיִם׃
“Then Jethro exclaimed, ‘Baruch HaShem! Who delivered you from the hand of Egypt and the hand of Pharaoh, Who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians!’” – Exodus 18:10
When Moses tells Jethro, his father-in-law, about all the miracles God performed to save the Israelites, he becomes the first person in the Torah to say, “Baruch HaShem – Thank God!” Sometimes it can be easy to overlook the miracles that happen in our lives every day, and it takes someone we love to help us find gratitude. May we all be open to embracing the miracles that happen in our everyday!
Parsha Yitro – יִתְרוֹ Torah Summary:
Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses. (18:1-12)
Moses follows Yitro’s advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27)
The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai. Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, “All that God has spoken we will do.” (19:1-8)
After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25)
God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14)
Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them. Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18)
Yitro – יִתְרוֹ וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־מִצְרָֽיִם׃
“Then Jethro exclaimed, ‘Baruch HaShem! Who delivered you from the hand of Egypt and the hand of Pharaoh, Who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians!’” – Exodus 18:10
When Moses tells Jethro, his father-in-law, about all the miracles God performed to save the Israelites, he becomes the first person in the Torah to say, “Baruch HaShem – Thank God!” Sometimes it can be easy to overlook the miracles that happen in our lives every day, and it takes someone we love to help us find gratitude. May we all be open to embracing the miracles that happen in our everyday!
