#yitro #parshatyitro #whilewalkingthedog #earlymorningwalks #law #aseretdibrot #tencommandments #moses #government #changes #breakingdown #cuttingdown #snow #februarysnow
This week's parsha is named for the fascinating character, Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, the priest of Midian, who introduces Moshe, a fledgling and overwhelmed leader, to the idea of transferring Moshe's responsibility to judge disputes all on his own to cadre judges and magistrates. Yitro's wise counsel is adopted by Moshe.
The second section of the parsha is Matan Torah, when the ten utterances were revealed to the children of Israel. The Hebrews accepted the covenant at Sinai, and from here we embark upon the section of torah where we immerse ourselves in the laws and statutes that make up the basis of Jewish law.
This is a blog which explores Torah and the jewels that are found in parshiyot which have the power to connect with our lives now. It is with this in mind that I write this week's post, which I began to think about when walking my dog on Sunday morning, during the quiet after a snowstorm, thinking that somehow there is a connection between the introduced laws and institutions in torah and what we are witnessing now, the hasty destruction of institutions that are being broken quickly, ungraciously and completely. I fear that in the haste of breaking these institutions, we leave so many people's work broken and lives broken. Once broken, it is difficult to put Humpty Dumpty together again.
However small my voice is, I couldn't ignore the current news of cuts in government agencies. The current situation is just too disturbing.
I'm not sure how to sign off from this week's post, just as I am reeling from this deluge of news.
May we hear better news soon, both in these United States and in the Land of Israel.
Leann
One Snowy Morning
It is a still Sunday morning, and our neighborhood is white with snow.
Trixie Noodle, is ready for her walk,
With her white coat blotted with black spots,
it is as though a map of the world is painted on her back.
Her ears point up, her tail trails leisurely behind.
She walks ahead and I follow at a slow pace
on this early morning of black and white
following a February storm.
I try to imagine how Trixie Noodle views the world;
when before her all is black and white,
cold and crisp, simple and pristine,
without complications or agendas,
without politics or egos...
What does she perceive at this hour,
soon after dawn, while the moon is still balanced
in the brightening skies?
She gingerly places one foot in front of the other
padding silently through the shimmering powder,
unfamiliar and cold.
As is the way of dogs,
she pauses and sniffs the snow cover for the latest news.
She raises her head, glances about
and her nose is dusted with snow.
Trixie Noodle does not contemplate laws and systems,
She knows nothing of judges, constitutions or crises.
She is not familiar with treaties between God and man,
of threats issued or wars that continue between nations.
Not on this quiet forest path. Not here.
Trixie pads softly through the day;
just another Sunday morning.
She lowers her head to the ground and gingerly sniffs,
oblivious to the sound of the world slowly cracking
as it is ripped apart, piece by piece,
What was years in the making, is days in the unmaking
How simple it is to tear things apart
and once broken, how difficult it is to put them together again.
Step by step, through the snow , Trixie Noodle proceeds without a care;
not looking back.
Our footprints softly imprint in the snow as sparrows watch us from above.
My dog Trixie lowers her head deep into the snow and sniffs for the news.
Under the white blanket of snow all the dirt is covered.
Other Posts from Words Have Wings For Parshat Yitro:
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/sinai-pianissimo Sinai Pianissimo
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/as-god-s-mountain-trembled. As God's Mountain Trembled
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/breaking-bread. Breaking Bread
Winterreise by Coldworld
Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You represent the people before God: you bring the disputes before God,
וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃
and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow.
וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכּל־הָ֠עָ֠ם אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
You shall also seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens,
וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־הָעָם֮ בְּכל־עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה כּל־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדֹל֙ יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְכל־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפְּטוּ־הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ׃
and let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you.
Exodus 18:19-22
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙
Commentaires