Yisro 2018: A Man of Truth

Parshas Yisro

A Man of Truth

“And Yisro heard…” (Shemos 18: 1)

Allow me to introduce you to a man who is truly remarkable. This man is one of dignity and esteem, a minister and former adviser to the world authority, and a man of justice and truth.

Our eventful parsha this week was named in his sake.

This man’s name is “Yisro”. 

Yisro was not only a prominent figure politically, he was also the father-in-law to our very own Moshe Rabbeinu.

What was so special about Yisro that he has an entire portion of the Torah in his namesake? But not just any portion but the very segment that relays the B’nai Yisroel receiving the Torah from Hashem?

As noted above, Yisro was a man of truth. He experimented with every religion and belief in his time, desperately searching for life’s meaning and purpose. He tried to serve the luminaries, constellations, and every inanimate object that was at one time called, “G-d”. Unfulfilled, time and time again. Yet his search never ended.  Until finally, “And Yisro heard...” 

What did Yisro hear?

Yisro heard (as did the rest of the world) about the miracles that Hashem “G-d of the Hebrews” had performed. He heard how Hashem turned Egypt inside out and extracted an entire nation of (an estimated) 3 million people from within the boundaries of the world’s most powerful nation. Furthermore, how He brought all the plagues and then parted the Red Sea for His nation to cross – and eventually drowning the entire Egyptian army.

Yisro knew this could only be the work of Hashem, the Creator of the world. Without even the slightest hesitation he packed his things and traveled to meet his son-in-law (Moshe) and the Jewish people, to join them and pursue truth.

It was not his stature or his fame that made Yisro unique. Yisro was the person who heard the truth and was compelled to do the right thing.

Finally, when Yisro joined the B’nai Yisroel Hashem gave him an opportunity to make an impact on both Moshe and the people. Yisro offered very valuable advice to Moshe who was beginning to feel the burden of the fresh new nation. It is because of this advice and the very nature and conduct of Yisro that earned him a special place in the Torah.

To be able to hear something, internalize it, and then revolutionize everything about yourself is something that we can learn from the man called, “Yisro”.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and weekend!

Maverick V. Peters

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