Yitro (Jethro)
Exodus 18:1 - 2 0:23

           The Torah readings for the year are divided in such a way that there is a Torah portion every week for the course of a whole year including special readings for holidays. The name of each Torah portion finds its origin in a word found in the first or second verse of the portion.  The portion for this week is called Yitro (Jethro for all of you English speakers).  Although the portion begins with the great advice given to Moses by Jethro, his father-in-law, the bulk of this week’s reading is about the covenant between God and the children of Israel and the recitation of the Ten Commandments. This is perhaps one of the most well know passages in the entire Tanach (Hebrew Scriptures).  It is a very appropriate passage to have on this day, the Bat Mitzvah Day of Sandi Griffin. The words “Bat Mitzvah” mean “Daughter of the Commandment”. When a Jewish girl is 13 years old  chants a portion of Torah and from the prophets  In our case, a passage from the New Covenant is read as well. Although the ceremony did not exist in biblical times, a boy at age 13 was considered “Bar Mitzvah”  which meant that he was expected to assume adult responsibility in the Jewish religious world. The ceremony came into being approximately 1000 years ago. The ceremony for girls was introduced in the United States in the 1920’s.   Sandi did  not have a Bat Mitzvah when she was 13. Although she has been a “Bat Mitzvah” for many years, today on her birthday, Sandi has decided to have her Bat Mitzvah ceremony. The ceremony  is a symbol of her Jewish identity as well as an opportunity to commemorate the importance of Yeshua the Messiah in her life.  

          As I stated above, today’s Torah portion features the reception of the Ten Commandments by the children of Israel . For Israel these commandments serve as the basis of what it means to be a holy people.  In the passage preceding the Ten commandments we read 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel ." Exodus 19:5-6.  Israel is called to be a holy nation. When we analyze the Commandments carefully we see that they fall into two categories: commandments that regulate our relationship with God and commandments that regulate our relationship with people.  Put simply, the Ten Commandments are about loving God and loving people.  We learn that to be “holy” does not simply mean being religious. One can attend all services, memorize prayers and participate in all activities and at the same time profane the name of God and treat others poorly. That is why God said in the first chapter of the prophet Isaiah, "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. Isaiah 1:14.  Of course, God indeed loves our participation in holiday celebrations - but not when our heart is not right - not when we profane His name and treat others in an offensive manner. To really be a holy person, one needs to be holy from the inside out. This is what part of the Shema reminds us to do: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)  For when we are holy on the inside, it bears the fruit of holiness on the outside - living in obedience to the Word of God. In relationship to others, holiness means being moral and ethical in all of our relationships. It means forgiving others who have wronged us. It means not holding grudges. It means being fair in our business practices. It means to go out of our way to be helpful. But there is more. To be holy on the inside is to holy as God is holy. You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy (Leviticus 19:2)   This is why God included the sacrificial system in the Torah. No one all by him/herself can  emulate the holiness of God. The sacrifices brought a covering over sin (Kippur means covering) and forgiveness for sin. As Messianic believers, we understand that the sacrificial system looked forward to the sacrifice of the suffering servant, Yeshua the Messiah who would bring complete forgiveness and restoration. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:6).  May our Torah portion today remind us of what it means to be a holy people. Shabbat Shalom!