Parsha Thoughts: Yisro 5776

We are told in the opening pasuk of this week’s parsha that Yisro “heard” and joined the ranks of the Jewish people. Many of the commentators try to understand what it was the Yisro heard and more importantly, why is it only Yisro that heard? Reb Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (the Kotzker Rebbe) explains that we know “shamu amim yirgazun – all of the nations heard and feared.” Yisro was not alone, everyone heard about the Jewish nation and the Ribono Shel Olam. However, Yisro responded to the message, “ma shmuah shama U’ba – Yisro hear and came.” Yisro heard, internalized the message, and acted upon it. The burning bush that Moshe approached was sitting there for years. People passed it all the time. Moshe saw it, did not turn aside from the phenomenon, and ultimately approached the divine.