Yitro
A snobbish antisemite commented to the rabbi that she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and her ancestors had seen the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Undaunted, the rabbi replied that his ancestors had witnessed the Divine revelation on Mount Sinai!
Although more than 3,500 years have passed since that historic event, the message of that occasion remains as a core part of our faith. It is due for renewal this Shabbat. However, we may wish to contrast this against the politically- correct need to be inclusive in our approach.
The Ten Commandments, which are the focus of the weekly reading, add up to only some 120 words and yet no religious text has exerted such influence on the moral and social life of humankind. It acts to provide in summary form the duty of us all both toward our Creator and to each other.
We speak sloppily in translation about the giving of the Ten Commandments but of course, we know this is a common misreading because “Aseres HaDibros” really means the 10 utterances or sayings. We also know that the Torah comprised 613 mitzvot or, if you wish, commandments. Giving people orders, however, has become an unpopular way to deal with society.
Parents are encouraged to reason with their progeny. Independent thinking taught in schools leave the individual to make choices and those choices may or may not involve taking on these rules and
regulations: some, all or a personal selection of what makes you feel comfortable and unrestricted in your own lifestyle. That is not the message of our sedra this week.
Every Jew understands their ancestors were present at the giving of the Torah. Our Sages explain that even the souls of the as-yet unborn were present. The Talmud relates how the people of Israel offered their children (and, by implication, future generations) as guarantors for this gift of the blueprint of life.
According to Rabbinical literature, God had already offered the Torah to several of our closest geographical “cousins”, but each nation asked for an explanation of the obligations and found that there was at least one which did not sit well with their raison d’etre. Only when He came to the Jewish people did they unhesitatingly respond with a positive and unconditional acceptance in advance of “inspecting the goods”
(Exodus 19:8).
The inescapable fact is that we are bound by the acts of our forebears.
The element of choice has been removed long before we had a chance to exercise it.
Nevertheless, what we have is not only a textual source for study but a code of personal discipline to inspire us and by which to live.
As the start of the passage so graphically records for all time
(Exodus20:2): “I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt…”.
Yes, dear reader, the One who took all of us from an amoral world gave us the tenets to establish ourselves as the true heirs to the principles of a Torah life.
We, who are alive today, have the privilege to testify to that affinity and make it part of our daily existence.
