When the Kids Leave Home Did Moses have a blind spot? How is it possible that Moses, the devoted shepherd to his people, who understood their needs and frustrations, and their uncompromising defender, would miss something so obvious? The Torah relates how Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, saw how Moses was the sole judge for all the people. Jethro protested and said that it was a terrible idea and suggested the appointment of other judges to alleviate the burden of judging the people: Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out both you and these people who are with you for the matter is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone… But you shall choose out of the entire nation men of substance, God fearers, men of truth, who hate monetary gain, and you shall appoint over them [Israel] leaders over thousands, leaders over hundreds, leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens. And they shall judge the people at all times, and it shall be that any major matter they shall bring to you, and they themselves shall judge every minor matter, thereby making it easier for you, and they shall bear [the burden] with you. (Exodus 18:17-22) Moses missed this seemingly obvious problem because the role of Moses was to teach, educate and uplift. Moses understood that if the people had the opportunity to hear the word of the Torah directly from Moses, they would be elevated to greater heights. Jethro, however, realized that although the people would be inspired and uplifted while in the presence of Moses, when they would depart from his company, they would return to their previous spiritual state and remain unaffected by Moses' perspective. Jethro suggested, and G-d agreed, that the people must be involved in studying and adjudicating the law because the purpose of the Torah is not to offer moments of inspiration but rather to influence our daily, mundane lives. A parent spends years seeking to teach values, character, and positive traits to their child. Yet, the test of those values is not when the child is in the parents home, but when the child leaves the presence of the parent and incorporates those valused into his or her own life. The same is true in our own lives. The Torah offers us many opportunities to be uplifted and transcend the distractions of daily life. Opportunities to metaphorically "stand before Moses". Yet, the ultimate test of the Torah is how it affects us when we return to the reality of daily life. For the testament that we have attained the essence of the Torah is if we can extend it to sanctify and influence the most mundane parts of life. Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, Likkutei Sichos 16 Yisro 2
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