Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. A reminder that services will be held this Friday (10th) at 7:00PM and our Midrash will take place on Shabbat (Saturday) starting at 10:00AM. Both at the shul.
Parsha Yitro
This week we'll be learning from Parsha Yitro (Jethro) that you'll find in Exodus 18:1 - 20:23. What is it that we can learn here:
This is the Torah portion containing the giving of the Ten Commandments. Did you know that there are differences in the Ten Commandments as stated here in Ex. 20: 1 - 14 and then restated later in Deut. 5: 6 - 18? We'll talk about those differences tonight and during our Midrash. See if you can find them in the meantime.
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro (Yitro or Yisro in Hebrew), joins the Jewish people in the desert, advises Moses on the best way to serve and judge the people – by appointing a hierarchy of intermediaries – and then returns home to Midian. The Ten Commandments are given, the first two were heard directly from G-d by every Jew and then the people begged Moses to be their intermediary for the remaining eight because the experience was too intense. The portion concludes with the Almighty telling Moses to instruct the Jewish people not to make any images of G-d. They were then commanded to make an earthen altar, and eventually to make a stone altar, but without the use of a sword or metal tool. Why was that? We'll also touch on that commandment
Sorry this is so short...headed north in just a few moments.
Thanks for reading and Shabbat Shalom!
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