From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, February 14,15, 2025/16,17 Shevat 5785
Tu B’Shevat is celebration is February 13-14 corresponding to the 15th of Shevat, which marks the Celebration of the trees. This is one of Jewish New Years to let us know when a tree is planted and the counting of five years before we can eat the fruits and nuts. This Shabbat I will be bringing the Israeli species mentioned in the Torah and megillah from Israel. The first flowering fruit or nut tree is the Hashkediya! Come to find out what this is, and learn about each of the special items. Special wine tasting, too!
The Torah portion is Yitro/Jethro Moses’ father-in-law. Jethro brings Zipporah, the wife of Moses, and their children to the Israelite camp. Jethro suggests to Moses that the burden of leadership is too much for one person to bear. He advises Moses to choose competent people with whom to share the leadership. Moses heeds his advice. Moses and the Israelites camp at Mount Sinai. Moses ascends the mountain and G-d speaks to him, giving him the Ten Commandments.
Sharing Leadership is about one way of learning about society’s values is by analyzing its leaders. A leader ought to embody all the values and ideals that his or her group holds dear. In this Torah portion Moses decides, after the counsel with Jethro, the burden of leadership is too great for one person to handle. He appoints trustworthy people to help him. Leadership is an important value in Judaism. Caring for a community is a complex task. Jethro, father-in-law of Moses appreciated the need to share the burden of responsibility , an important Jewish value. Keep in mind that Yitro was the leader of the Midianites, which were a non Jewish tribe. Zipporah converts to Judaism, and she takes full care of their two sons, while Moses is away and with G-d on Mount Sinai.
The Revelation is one of the greatest events in the entire Torah occurs in this Torah portion. The revelation of G-d at Mount Sinai, in which G-d communicates with the people of Israel. The nature of revelation and its meaning for the Jewish people have been understood in various ways by different branches of Judaism. Some believe that G-d communicated with us in actual words. Others believe that the revelation consisted of a mysterious human encounter with G-d.
Whether the rabbis and scholars believed that the first two commandments everyone heard from G-d was so frightening that Moses went up to Mount Sinai to hear the rest of the Ten Commandments, or for those that believe it was a mysterious encounter that is fine, too. What is unique about the Revelation on Mount Sinai is that the Israelites, after being slaves under Egyptian Pharaohs for four hundred years, traveled into the wilderness of the desert and ALL Israelites found the One True G-d. At this juncture in ancient times All the peoples were either Polytheistic or Pagan worshippers.
No Peoples of the world were chosen or selected to become the light unto other nations with ethical and moral ideology and then they adhered to the laws for over three millennia!
The Haftarah of Isaiah is taken from his every manhood. One day in the Temple he heard the fiery angels (seraphim) singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is Adonai Tzeva’ot, the whole earth is filled with G-d’s Presences.” Today, the Jewish people recite this as a prayer every Shabbat morning and on the High Holidays and some festivals!
The Haftarah, which is the closing portion of the Torah service, has the connection to the revelation.
We pray that this Sabbath ALL THE HOSTAGES WILL BE RELEASED!
After the world witnessed the return of last week’s three hostages, it was akin to the Holocaust survivors! While this Torah portion explains that the Jewish people set the example of how to treat human beings, even towards prisons and slaves by giving food and water, our enemies are barbarians and do not adhere to such standards.
May we Pray for Peace to come to Israel and the world.
Am Ysrael Chai/ Long Live Israel!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
