Weekly Parsha

This Week Study is sponsored anonymously in honor of our kehilat Kodesh Community. May G-d Bless us all with much success, good health and peaceful home.

Exodus 18:1 -20:23

Yitro, Yithro, Yisroi, Yisrau, or Yisro (יִתְרוֹ‎, Hebrew for the name "Jethro," the second word and first distinctive word in the parashah). Jethro is a male given name meaning "overflow"

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 (Exodus 20:1 -14) and related later in Deuteronomy 5:6 - 18?

Moses' father-in-law, Jethro 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.

The Torah states:

"Honor your father and mother in order that your days may be long upon the Land which the your G-d gives to you" (Exodus 20:12).

It also states:

"Every man, his mother and father shall he fear" (Levitcus 19:3).

Below are some basic laws pertaining to this commandment:

• A child should consider his parents distinguished, even if others do not consider them so.
• We must always speak to our parents with a soft and pleasant tone.
• A child must not contradict his parents. (Yorah Daiah 240:1 -- The Code of Jewish Law)
• A child must not call his parent by name. (Yorah Daiah, 240:1)
• A child must not sit in a place where his parent usually sits.
• A child should fulfill his parent's requests with a pleasant facial expression.
• You are obligated to stand up before your father and your mother when they enter the room. (YD 240:7)
• A child has no right to humiliate or embarrass his parents, regardless of what they do to him.
• If a parent tells a child to violate either a Torah law or rabbinical law, he is forbidden to comply.
• A child must be careful not to awaken his parents.

Parents should make sure that their young children show respect towards them and others. If a young child forms the habit of being disrespectful to his parents or others, he will also lack respect when he grows up. (This is why I never let my children call adults by their first names even if my friends introduce themselves to my kids using just their first name.) The reward for honoring parents is long life. Therefore, if a parent sincerely loves his children, he should make sure that they fulfill this commandment!

Honor your parents. is honoring G-d. Honor your parents ...and your children will honor you. When you are good to others, you are best to yourself. 

G-d Bless You and Shabbat Shalom!

Prayer list

"Nahum ben Bracha"
"Julia bas Maggie (Miriam)"
"Adira (Heidi) bas Sarah"

Pray for the  "Refuah Shleima"  (rapid recovery) of "  our community" . May G-d deliver us from this crisis quickly and grant a full recovery to those who are sick, Amen!

Covid won't stop our learning 

We are pleased to announce the  American Jewish College's  FREE Learning Program .

Please contact Rabbi Tank's WhatsApp at +1 (917) 834-4770 to inform that you want to join the English, French, Spanish or Portuguese daily study group.

The wise man seizes the opportunity to do mitzvot" (King Solomon). The lazy person says -- someday I'll do it.

Be a Partner

Join Our Campaign