Good Advice?

In this week’s Parsha, Moshe’s father-in-law, Yitro, notices that Moshe is overworked dealing with all the requests and disputes coming to him from the Jewish people. He suggests that Moshe delegate some of the work to other highly-qualified people. In making his suggestion, Yitro says “וְהָיָה כָּל-הַדָּבָר הַגָּדֹל יָבִיאוּ אֵלֶיךָ, וְכָל-הַדָּבָר הַקָּטֹן יִשְׁפְּטוּ-הֵם (and it… Continue reading Good Advice?

Keeping Perspective

וַיַּסַּע מֹשֶׁה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּם-סוּף, וַיֵּצְאוּ אֶל-מִדְבַּר-שׁוּר; וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת-יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְלֹא-מָצְאוּ מָיִם. וַיָּבֹאוּ מָרָתָה–וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתֹּת מַיִם מִמָּרָה, כִּי מָרִים הֵם; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמָהּ, מָרָה. וַיִּלֹּנוּ הָעָם עַל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר, מַה-נִּשְׁתֶּה. יִּצְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, וַיּוֹרֵהוּ יְהוָה עֵץ, וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶל-הַמַּיִם, וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם; שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט, וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ. And Moshe led Israel onward from the Sea of Reeds, and… Continue reading Keeping Perspective

“The humble will inherit the Earth”

VaYechi 5770 Yaakov Avinu gave priority in his blessing of Yosef’s sons to the younger of the two, Efraim. The Ba’al HaTurim finds a hint in the Torah’s description of the event that Efraim was honoured above his brother because “he had humbled himself.” Humility is often not given its due admiration in our society;… Continue reading “The humble will inherit the Earth”