Torah Stories By Hannah Yitro

Today's story is about Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law. He heard about all the miracles that HaShem had done for Yisrael. Moshe's wife, Zipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, were with him in Midian, and he decided to take them to Moshe in the desert, where he camped at the mountain of HaShem. He sent word to Moshe, “I, your father-in-law Yitro, am coming to you, with your wife and sons.” Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed low and kissed him; each asked after the other’s welfare, and they went into the tent.

Moshe told him everything that had happened, and the miracles that HaShem had performed for them and how HaShem has saved them from the Egyptians. Yitro blessed HaShem, and said: "Now I know that HaShem is greater than all the other gods." Then he brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to HaShem and Aharon and all the elders of Yisrael came to participate in the meal before HaShem, with Moshe's father-in-law.

The next day, Moshe went about his task to be a judge for the people. But when Yitro saw how hard he was working, and how all the people were waiting around Moshe from morning until evening, he spoke to Moshe about it and asked why he had to work so hard. Moshe told Yitro, that he had to teach the people the ways of HaShem, and decide on matters to make known the laws and the ways of HaShem. Yitro told Moshe that he was not doing the right thing. This way he would make himself too tired. He couldn't possibly do such a big task all on his own. The people also got tired because they had to wait all day until Moshe could see them.

Yitro then suggested to Moshe that he teach other men to be judges as well, and that he give them all the minor cases to handle, but do all the difficult ones himself. In this way, he would be able to handle all the work and the people would also not be too tired from waiting all day. Moshe listened to Yitro, and chose men and appointed them as chiefs over the people. There were chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They judged the people over all the smaller matters, and brought all the difficult matters to Moshe.

Soon after, the Yisraelites entered Sinai, and camped at the front of the mountain. Moshe went up to HaShem on the mountain. He said to Moshe: "Say to the people of Yisrael: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I brought you to Me. Now then, if you obey Me faithfully, and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Yisrael.

Moshe called all the elders of the people together and told them all that HaShem had commanded him. The people answered as one and said: "All that HaShem has spoken, we will do!" Moshe told HaShem what they had said, and then HaShem said to Moshe that He would come down to the people in a thick cloud so that they hear when He speaks to Moshe and trust Him and remember forever. He told Moshe that the people were to keep themselves pure for three days, and to set boundaries for them, so that they knew where to stand. They would be punished with death if they did not listen.

Moshe came down from the mountain to the people and warned them to stay pure, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people: “Be ready for the third day: Do not make yourselves impure.”

On the third day, early in the morning, there was thunder and lightning, and a dark thick cloud was on the mountain. There was a loud blast of a horn, and the people were trembling, they were so afraid. Moshe led the people out of the camp toward HaShem, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

The mountain was covered with smoke, because HaShem had come down to it in fire. The mountain trembled violently, like an earthquake. The blasts of the horn grew louder and louder and when Moshe spoke, HaShem answered him in thunder.

Everyone heard HaShem speak all these words:

I am HaShem, your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods besides Me.

You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down and serve them. For I HaShem your G-d is a jealous G-d, visiting the guilt of the Fathers upon the Children, upon the third and fourth generations of those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

You may not swear falsely by the name of HaShem your G-d. For HaShem will not hold you guiltless if you swear falsely by His name.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of HaShem your G-d: You shall not do any work - you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is with you. For in six days HaShem made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and on the seventh day He rested. This is why HaShem blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.

Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land that HaShem your G-d gives you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

You shall not covet your neighbour's house, or his male or female slave, or his ox, or his ass or anything that is your neighbour's.

All the people saw the lightning and thunder, and heard the horn and saw the mountain smoking, and when they saw it, they fell back and stood at a distance. They said to Moshe: "You speak to us, and we shall obey, but please don't let HaShem speak to us, because we are scared that we may die!" Moshe then told the people that they should not be afraid, because HaShem spoke to them to test them, and so that they will have fear of HaShem, so that they will never go astray. The people then remained at a distance, and Moshe approached the thick cloud where HaShem was.

HaShem said to Moshe: So shall you say to the Yisraelites: You yourselves saw that I spoke to you from the very heavens: With Me, therefore, you shall not make any gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves any gods of gold. Make for Me an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I caused My Name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you. And if you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stones; for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them. Do not ascend My altar by steps, that your nakedness may not be exposed upon it.