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In this week’s parasha, Yitro, before reading of the giving of the Ten Commandments, we are told of Yitro, Moshe’s father in law, and his recognition of Hashem, and advice he offers Moshe regarding how to lead the Jewish people best.
In the first few verses of the parasha, we see Yitro responding to the great miracles he heard that Hashem had performed for Bnei Yisrael. This drives Yitro to convert, joining the Jewish people, and praise Hashem. The verses describe:
וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־מִצְרָֽיִם׃
“Blessed be God,” said Yitro, “who delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־גָד֥וֹל יְהֹוָ֖ה מִכׇּל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
Now I know that God is greater than all gods, yes, by the result of their very schemes against [the people].”
וַיִּקַּ֞ח יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכׇל־לֶ֛חֶם עִם־חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
And Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to partake of the meal before God with Moshe’s father-in-law.
We see that Yitro praises Hashem, acknowledges His greatness, He and Moshe join together to offer sacrifices, and then enjoy a meal together. Why did Moshe not immediately sit down for a meal with his father in law once he saw him? Why did he first go through the whole process of the offerings? Let them get settled, enjoy some food, and surely the offerings could be offered afterwards!
Yet Moshe saw that Yitro was completely amazed with Hashem, and excited and ready to dedicate himself to Judaism. Moshe realized that if he let this passion “cool off,” while they enjoyed a meal, maybe he would never get that passion back. He grabbed the moment of intensity, and committed it to action before it subsided. This is the principle that we have in Halacha - “when a mitzvah presents itself, do not let it sour by delaying its fulfillment - מִצְוָה שֶׁבָּאָה לְיָדְךָ אַל תַּחְמִיצֶנָּה.” When the passion is there - don’t delay - grab the opportunity and put it to action!
This lesson is true too in our own lives, whether in education, parenting, or our personal life. Whenever we see passion in ourselves or even more so when we see passion in others - take that moment and find a way to bring it to reality. Don’t move on and hope the passion will remain - give it space to grow and solidify, and please God, with this the passion will remain ignited.
Shabbat Shalom.
David Azerad & Rabbi David Wallach
Director and Assistant Director of Jewish Studies
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