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Torah Portion -
Yisro
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Written by Rafi Jager
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Why, in fact, did Yisro leave everything he had to join the Klal Yisrael? Rashi explains the opening words of this week's parsha, "Vayishma Yisro - and Yisro heard," to refer to Yisro's hearing the news of the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea and the victory in the war against Amalek.
One of the most unbelievable aspects about Yisro's decision is that despite all of the well-known miracles that Hashem performed for the Jewish people, he was the only one from Midian who left his insurmountable pleasures to follow Hashem. Everyone around him continued to sin, and only he could not tolerate their behavior any longer. He was able to overcome the influence of the society around him and map out his own course. Through his new relationship with Hashem, he acquired a degree of eternity.
Today, we live in a society where things that are accepted as normal in secular society are not always acceptable for the Jewish people. We must be dedicated in our efforts to fulfill Hashem's will. As Chazzal tell us in Pirkei Avos (5:23): "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to carry out the will of your Father in heaven." We must not let the yeitzer hara hold us back from reaching our fullest potential.
If Yisro, an ally of the ruthless Amalek, can do teshuvah and return to Hashem, then we can certainly struggle to do the same. May we all merit to continually strive to improve in our Avodas Hashem and achieve eternity like Yisro.
Good Shabbos!
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