Yisro Essay
The name of this parsha is Yisro, the father in law of Moshe who joined Bnei Yisrael’s ranks.
Without a doubt the main feature in this week’s parsha is the receiving of the Torah on Har Sinai, and Bnei Yisrael’s commitment of na’ase venishma. Yet the name of the parsha is attributed to Yisro, who was a convert, and soon thereafter left Bnei Yisrael.
There is also little doubt about the greatness of Yisro. The Sfas Emes explains that Yisro actually led all the nations to follow Bnei Yisrael and not to follow Amalek.
The first pasuk begins with the word “Vayishma Yisro” And Yisro heard. Rashi explains Yisro heard about the splitting of the sea and our fight with Amalek. These events moved him so much that he left his esteemed position of one of the world leaders and joined our ranks.
The significance of the word vayishma actually teaches us the power of hearing. The Gemara explains that the power of hearing is the most important sense that we have. For it is through hearing that change can actually penetrate into our very essence.
Rashi (Devarim 5:19) says that the voice of HaShem giving us the Torah never stopped. The Sfas Emes explains that there are two levels, the voice (kol) and words (dibur). Where dibur is referring to the actual division of the voice into words, so that it can be understood, as an instruction – HaShem’s instruction to us. Yet Kol is the voice from a much more primary source, it is even before the words. It is this kol, that never stops and can be heard every day, if only we would listen.
Bnei Yisrael made their commitment to HaShem with the words na’ase and nishma – we will do and we will hear. The Sfas Emes explains that the na’ase – doing even before hearing, was a special connection that Bnei Yisrael had to HaShem at that stage. This was a connection so deep that instinctively they knew exactly what had to be done without being told what to do. The nishma that followed it was for the people that were not on that level.
Furthermore the Midrash says that after the sin of the Golden Calf HaShem said to Bnei Yisrael: You have ruined na’ase at last guard nishma. This means that we were no longer on that lofty level of the instinctive connection to HaShem, however we still have the power of hearing. The Sfas Emes further teaches us that our true status as Bnei Yisrael is part and parcel of the Torah, and this level of na’ase is not removed from us. When we utilize our power of nishma properly we then merit the level of na’ase.
Perhaps this is therefore the significance of the first words of the parsha and the name Yisro. It was Yisro who used this power of hearing properly that serves as an introduction to receiving the Torah.
