Parshat Yitro: Parshah Resources

Giving Torah transforms introversion into extroversion

Moshe Rabbeinu began as an introvert, carrying a speech handicap, he was changed by the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, the climax of parshat Yitro. With this transformation, his goodness (seen at his birth) was united with kindness, with the greatest kindness being the ability to transmit God's words to others. The great tzadikim of the generations–the extension of Moshe Rabbeinu's soul–also went through a similar transformation, starting out as introverts, but being called upon by the Almighty to teach Torah to the people of their generation. Click here to read.

Added: 14 Shevat 5771 | 18 Jan 2011

The love [Fibonacci] series of numbers

Parshat Yitro is the 17th parsha of the Torah. It has 72 verses. These two numbers are used as the basis for exploring one of the most important mathematical series, the love [Fiboannci] series (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …) revealing some of its beautiful properties and their meaning in Torah. Click here to read.

Added: 14 Shevat 5771 | 18 Jan 2011

United Before Mt. Sinai

The sages explain that unlike all their other encampments, when the Jewish people camped before Mt. Sinai, prior to the giving of the Torah, they were united like a single individual with one heart (meaning, a singular purpose). For this reason, this phrase is always quoted as a symbol of Jewish unity. What is the secret of Jewish unity? Click here to read.

Mt. Sinai in Three Dimensions

Of the four images that describe the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, only the final image of the smoking mountain actually touches physical reality. What is the deep message of smoke and why is this the final image that is meant to linger in our consciousness? In this meditation, Harav Ginsburgh analyzes the three dimensions of smoke and how we can unite these dimensions in our senses so that we may transform earthly reality to a dwelling place for God. Click here to hear the recorded lecture and for a study aid.

The Ten Commandments in Parshat Kedoshim

The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Pentateuch. The first time is in our parshah, Yitro. The second time in parshat Va'etchanan. But, there is an allusion to them in parshat Kedoshim as well. Click here to read.

Love and Fear

A study of the connections between the Ten Commandments and the Shema using intermediate level gematria. Click here to read.

Honoring Our Father and Mother

You might ask, what is the question? Who knows what’s good for a child better than their parents? But it’s no so straightforward. The commandment to “Honor your father and your mother” is not directed at a young child, but to an adult who is obligated to keep the mitzvot. Perhaps there are those who believe (mostly children…) that the commandment to respect your parents ends with the bar-mitzvah celebration, but in truth, it is the opposite.