In this week’s Parshas we read about מתן תורה. The Parsha also starts off with the story of Yisro and his eventual גירות. Why was יתרו given such prominence in the Parsha of מתן תורה?
The 1st of the עשרת הדברות says: אנכי ה’ אלוקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים
The Mifarshim ask why does it not say אנכי ה’ אשר בראתי שמים וארץ?
Sefer Nesivos Shalom explains that at מתן תורה there were 2 major events. Hashem revealed Himself to the world, and also that He chose Klal Yisrael to be his nation. These 2 monumental events go together, as Hashem so to speak tied Himself to us, the עם הנבחר. And that is why the Torah emphasizes אלוקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים
Not only am I Hashem, but I’m also אלוקיך, and the purpose of יציאת מצרים was for this, that you should become My nation. It is with this understanding that we can also explain the famous מדרש:
בשעה שנתן ה’ תורה צפור לא צייץ, עוף לא פרח. All of nature went quite at the great moment. Since a new reality was being created. A new world in which there would be a nation of Klal Yisrael. And so rhe old world of nature had to be silent. Rashi says at the beginning of the Parsha
: מה שמועה שמע ובא? קריעת ים סוף ומלחמת עמלק.
Yisro was inspired by these 2 stories of rescue. In both Klal Yisrael was under attack by nations of the world, and in both they miraculously emerged safely. So Yisro sees the great contrast between Klal Yisrael and the אומות העולם and has a desire to become part of us. The Rambam writes that a גוי can be מחסידי אומות העולם and merit עולם הבא by just keeping the שבע מצוות בני נח. Yet, Yisro chose to go all in and join us. And till today, many choose to go all in and to become a part of Klal Yisrael by being גרים. This is often done with much מסירות נפש, at great personal sacrifice. Yet these heroes choose to become part of the עם הנבחר as they understand the true greatness of Klal Yisral.
There is a well known גר צדק living today in Tzfas. His name is Rabbi Nattan Gamedze. He is from a prominent African family who found his way to Yiddishkeit. He notes that its not always easy being a man of color while living a Chariedi lifestyle. Nonetheless when asked why he chose to become a Jew he responds: ואני קרבת אלוקים לי טוב The special connection that I have to Hashem by being a Jew makes it all well worth it.
We can now understand why Yisro is given such prominence in the Parsha. He understood the greatness of Klal Yisrael which is the theme of מתן תורה and his story is the story of the Parsha.
We’ll conclude with a beautiful true story told over by Rav Azreal Tauber זצ”ל. He had founded a well known Bais Din in Monsey called Machon L’Horaah. The Dayanim were officiating by the גרות of a young woman. Just prior to her טבילה, the Dayanim reminded her that she can still back out. “It’s not easy being a Yid, and it’s even harder being a convert.” They then went through a litany of reasons why life as a Jew will be much more complicated. The young woman replied: ” You’re telling me all these reasons why my life will be much harder if I become a Yid. But none of that is a concern to me, since I have 1 goal in mind. I want to become Hashem’s child!!”
May we all merit to appreciate the greatness of being Hashem’s children!
Weekly Parsha Shiur 