Exodus Cycle Two Yitro 18:1 to 20:23

Yitro

Not everyone can take the heat. Think of the temperature in your hot tub…or the one you’re about to step into. There’s 100. There’s 101. There is not better. There is not worse. It’s all just a matter of knowing who we are when it comes to the watery heaven bubbling upon our body and soul. It’s a matter of sensing one degree to the next.

This is an important lesson. In fact it’s so important in Torah it lands between two seismic events; the Exodus and the receiving of the ten devarim, or the Ten Commandments. Of course, we’re moving beyond hot tubs here. However, feeling your heat propensity is crucial. Understanding the heat hierarchy comprises much of the pre-mystic revelation pep-talk.

Oh well, you might think. It would be much more fun if we could just jump into the intensifying blast of the ram’s horn, the thunder and lightning and smoke on a mountain trembling violently. I mean, we’ve just been dealing with the chaotic manna situation and a full fledged battle with Amalek. We need a break.

But wait. What happens to a revelation without a vessel? Well, it leaks. It gets all over your metaphorical patio, makes a mess. So a vessel is necessary. And while the question is not why one of us ends up going up Mt Sinai and the others don’t…it does revolve around an understanding of the importance of the vessels (in other words the boundaries). In the end, whether we take a hike with Moses or stay with the priests or the people, whether we end up being leaders or not a leader at all…what we need to focus on are the links that keep us both stable and in flow. We need to see the boundaries as ways to connect, not as some claim for superiority in a world that tends to mistake position with physical and spiritual worth.

Let’s look at the parasha more closely. Enter Yitro. What does he see? Moses, morning to evening, is listening to the problems of the people. The question is, does the man ever sleep? Not to get back to hot tubs, but if anyone ever needs one in Torah, Moses does now. Yitro says to Moses something like this: Hey did you ever hear of something called boundaries? No doubt, if Moses can’t take care of Moses he won’t take care of anyone. He also won’t reflect inward into the microcosm. After all there are boundaries of each soul being born from within, boundaries of each emanation. Think of bubbles within bubbles, the infinite possibilities within us all, so many mirrors.

Next, moving from inner to outer, Yitro teaches Moses about the hierarchies. He advises Moses to create leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. If necessary, these leaders can defer to Moses and Moses to God. So, deserving people are picked out of the masses. This certainly raises the heat in their metaphoric hot tubs and hopefully they can take it.

Finally, we receive the ultimate boundary, that created by God. First (19:12) Moses is to cause it to be set at the base of Mt Sinai. And no one but Moses and Aaron can cross it. Second, in line 19:20 the word givul (boundary) is not used but if the people break through to God they will die. Third, in 19:23 the people (not Moses alone) are to set up the boundary. And fourth, in 19:24, the priests are included as well. If the people or the priests break through to God all will be destroyed. So, there are four descriptions of one boundary. Why? Because as it becomes more defined it become more clear, intimate as well as expansive, causative as well as active, tangible, intangible, a tool for the people as well as for the priests. It serves to connect not only everyone on all levels of the divine hierarchy, but each of the four levels themselves. Because of its very inference of so many vibrations, the result is deep and eternal inter-connection.

More examples of inter-connection in Yitro are everywhere. Yitro himself has seven names and therefore he represents the seven lower sefirot. Moses represents the three upper. Note that Moses bows down to Yitro no matter where they may each be found on this construct. Then, God comes down to the mountain, Moses goes up and Moses then goes down to the people. We have a hint (20:5) of the thirteen attributes, the closest Moses comes to God.(34:6). And finally, we receive the ten devarim. According to Rashi, they are first one pronouncement. God then places boundaries between them one by one so they can be understood and connected in the minds of the people.

I think the mistake we all make given boundaries and hierarchies is in thinking that as we get hotter we get better. Really, as Yitro shows us, the person honored is he who knows where he fits and how he can best satisfy his position. That’s because only with solid vessels can the interconnections (and YHWH) be felt and known…can we hear the ram’s horn and fly on eagles’ wings.

So, may we have compassion for each other in our uniqueness. May we know that humility is knowing who we are and where we fit. May we know our boundaries. May we be careful to reflect God and be in His image. May we remember our inter-dependence. May we feel hear and see the connections, listen and love, because that’s where God is really concealed, within the depth of the boundary itself. May we bask in each others’ warmth. And, of course, may we have a great big hot tub party and if the hot tub is too hot or (just as dangerous) way too cold…may we sit on the edge and smile.