Parashat Yitro

by Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon
Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif
“The next day Moshe took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.  When his father-in-law saw all that Moshe was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
Moshe answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” (Exod. 18,13-16)
What is the meaning of Moshe’s answer?  Did he not understand that Yitro was not asking a technical question, but wondering how Moshe can possibly judge the nation alone from morning to evening?
A general judicial system strives to find a suitable way to resolve disputes.  The Jewish judicial system strives to involve God as well – “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will”.  Laws and foundations of Jewish law are passed from generation to generation.  Some of these are principles which were given to Moshe at Mt. Sinai – Halacha l’Moshe miSinai.  These principles are implemented within the context of human assessment of the problem, according to the human perception of justice.
Today there is a separation between the legislative and judicial systems.  Who determines what the rules are?  Who decides what is right and what is moral?  In Judaism the definitions are dependant on the laws of the Torah.  In civil law the definitions are made by the legislative representatives of the people.  They decide what is appropriate and moral.  Wise, sensible and honest people are then selected to form the judicial authority, who implements these laws.
In Israel today, sometimes the judicial authorities mistakenly assume the responsibility of legislation.  This is extremely problematic, since world view, as well as political and religious thinking, can have an affect on legislation.  The Jewish legal system is based on divine principles, to avoid such external considerations.  Our human morality is based on a divine morality.
The Ramban explains, that Moshe thought one person should embody the halachic – legislative authority, the judicial authority, and the tzaddik who prays on behalf of the people.  The outcome of Yitro’s suggestion was a separation between the practical leadership and the legislative/judicial systems.
Apparently, Moshe was interested in a legal system similar to the one suggested by Yitro; however, such developments take time.  In order to achieve this goal, God’s laws must be studied and understood.  Judges must become familiar with the legal system so that they may judge in an appropriate manner, according to Torah laws.  Yitro’s concern that Moshe might “burn out” hastened the process which was theoretically underway.
I heard an alternate explanation from my teacher and Rabbi, Rav Amital zt”l, who liked to relate this idea through the following story:
Once Rabbi Moshe of Korvil visited the Hassidic Rabbi Yisrael of Apta, who was nicknamed ‘Ohev Yisrael’.  (Rabbi Moshe liked to travel from one Hassidic leader to another and study their customs).  On Friday evening, Rabbi Yisrael arrived at the synagogue before anyone else, and recited Shir HaShirim with great enthusiasm.
Rabbi Moshe looked at the Hassidic leader, who had immersed in the mikveh and was dressed in his special Shabbat streimel.  He watched the rabbi recite Shir HaShirim, projecting such holiness, when another person came in, dressed in work clothes, smelling of the barn he just came from.  The man went right up to the rabbi, while Rabbi Moshe wondered: what was so important, that would make a man approach the rabbi in such a manner, interrupting him at such a time?  He heard the man say: “rabbi, my cow is going into labor, I am afraid she will die”.  The rabbi gave him advice, and the man left.
Rabbi Moshe felt enraged: How dare the man disturb the rabbi with such a mundane question?  How does a man approach holiness in smelly work clothes?
After dinner, he addressed his question to the rabbi.  The rabbi replied: “You think the man could have been shouting “Cow! Cow!”, but alas, he was shouting “Rebbi! Rebbi!”.  The man wants to speak to his rabbi, but what could they discuss?  He is not a learned man; what could they possibly have in common?  Finally the man found an issue he can discuss with his rabbi: The cow!  The cow was an excuse to reach the rabbi, to benefit from his company and wisdom”.
This is Moshe’s response to Yitro: The nation wants to forge a relationship with Moshe, which is why they approach him with seemingly simple issues.  Having additional judges will not give them what they need.  The problems are only an excuse to speak to Moshe, to spend a little time with him!
Moshe ultimately understands that despite his ideology, he cannot carry the weight of the entire nation endlessly.  However, even once a system is created, Moshe’s doors are open, and anyone who desires can approach him.
It is important to remember that when someone seeks our council, the advice is not necessarily the only thing they need.  Sometimes the question or problem is just a way of forging a relationship.  We should try to offer not only help or advice regarding the specific issue, but answer the deeper need to connect as well.
Shabbat Shalom!

Connections
by Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif
“The next day Moshe took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.  When his father-in-law saw all that Moshe was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” Moshe answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” (Exod. 18,13-16)What is the meaning of Moshe’s answer?  Did he not understand that Yitro was not asking a technical question, but wondering how Moshe can possibly judge the nation alone from morning to evening?A general judicial system strives to find a suitable way to resolve disputes.  The Jewish judicial system strives to involve God as well – “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will”.  Laws and foundations of Jewish law are passed from generation to generation.  Some of these are principles which were given to Moshe at Mt. Sinai – Halacha l’Moshe miSinai.  These principles are implemented within the context of human assessment of the problem, according to the human perception of justice.  Today there is a separation between the legislative and judicial systems.  Who determines what the rules are?  Who decides what is right and what is moral?  In Judaism the definitions are dependant on the laws of the Torah.  In civil law the definitions are made by the legislative representatives of the people.  They decide what is appropriate and moral.  Wise, sensible and honest people are then selected to form the judicial authority, who implements these laws.  In Israel today, sometimes the judicial authorities mistakenly assume the responsibility of legislation.  This is extremely problematic, since world view, as well as political and religious thinking, can have an affect on legislation.  The Jewish legal system is based on divine principles, to avoid such external considerations.  Our human morality is based on a divine morality.The Ramban explains, that Moshe thought one person should embody the halachic – legislative authority, the judicial authority, and the tzaddik who prays on behalf of the people.  The outcome of Yitro’s suggestion was a separation between the practical leadership and the legislative/judicial systems.  Apparently, Moshe was interested in a legal system similar to the one suggested by Yitro; however, such developments take time.  In order to achieve this goal, God’s laws must be studied and understood.  Judges must become familiar with the legal system so that they may judge in an appropriate manner, according to Torah laws.  Yitro’s concern that Moshe might “burn out” hastened the process which was theoretically underway.I heard an alternate explanation from my teacher and Rabbi, Rav Amital zt”l, who liked to relate this idea through the following story:Once Rabbi Moshe of Korvil visited the Hassidic Rabbi Yisrael of Apta, who was nicknamed ‘Ohev Yisrael’.  (Rabbi Moshe liked to travel from one Hassidic leader to another and study their customs).  On Friday evening, Rabbi Yisrael arrived at the synagogue before anyone else, and recited Shir HaShirim with great enthusiasm.Rabbi Moshe looked at the Hassidic leader, who had immersed in the mikveh and was dressed in his special Shabbat streimel.  He watched the rabbi recite Shir HaShirim, projecting such holiness, when another person came in, dressed in work clothes, smelling of the barn he just came from.  The man went right up to the rabbi, while Rabbi Moshe wondered: what was so important, that would make a man approach the rabbi in such a manner, interrupting him at such a time?  He heard the man say: “rabbi, my cow is going into labor, I am afraid she will die”.  The rabbi gave him advice, and the man left.Rabbi Moshe felt enraged: How dare the man disturb the rabbi with such a mundane question?  How does a man approach holiness in smelly work clothes?After dinner, he addressed his question to the rabbi.  The rabbi replied: “You think the man could have been shouting “Cow! Cow!”, but alas, he was shouting “Rebbi! Rebbi!”.  The man wants to speak to his rabbi, but what could they discuss?  He is not a learned man; what could they possibly have in common?  Finally the man found an issue he can discuss with his rabbi: The cow!  The cow was an excuse to reach the rabbi, to benefit from his company and wisdom”.This is Moshe’s response to Yitro: The nation wants to forge a relationship with Moshe, which is why they approach him with seemingly simple issues.  Having additional judges will not give them what they need.  The problems are only an excuse to speak to Moshe, to spend a little time with him! Moshe ultimately understands that despite his ideology, he cannot carry the weight of the entire nation endlessly.  However, even once a system is created, Moshe’s doors are open, and anyone who desires can approach him.It is important to remember that when someone seeks our council, the advice is not necessarily the only thing they need.  Sometimes the question or problem is just a way of forging a relationship.  We should try to offer not only help or advice regarding the specific issue, but answer the deeper need to connect as well.
Shabbat Shalom!

Share: