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Jewish World Review
Truth seekers and maps
By Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum
Why the inspired too often fail
“Jethro, the minister of Midyan, the father-in-law of Moses, heard everything that G-d did to Moses and Israel.”
— Exodus 18:1
“Moses related to his father-in-law everything that the Divine had done to Pharaoh and Egypt for Israel's sake --- all the travail that had befallen them on the way.”
— Exodus 18:6
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Jethro, a Midyanite priest living far from Egypt, eventually learned of the destruction of the world's most mighty empire and the emerging Jewish nation: How the Hebrews were liberated from hundreds of years of bondage; how the Israelites survived the travail and marched out of the country. He heard of how the Red Sea miraculously split, granting them salvation and destroying their oppressors. Jethro also became aware of the battle with Amalek, in which the Jewish people triumphed over the nation which would become their archenemy. All of this inspired Jethro to leave the comfort of his home and travel out to the wilderness to join the nascent nation.
When Moses greeted his father-in-law, he immediately began to relate to him all of the Israelites' experiences, the incredible miracles that the Divine wrought for them, and their salvation which He had catalyzed.
We wonder why Moses found it necessary to reiterate this. Clearly, Jethro was aware of all that had taken place. That was, after all, what motivated him in the first place! He came because he heard; he was there, because he was aware.
The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh (1696 -1743) asks this question and explains that Jethro had heard generalities. He now wanted to hear the nuances, every single detail spelled out. He wanted specifics.
Rabbi Mordechai Gifter (1915 - 2001), the late dean of the Telshe yeshiva in Cleveland, cites Targum Yonasan, who teaches that what Moses discussed with Jethro was what would eventually emerge as Judaism's views of these miraculous occurrences. While Jethro understood the many miraculous events at one level, he didn't have the benefit of viewing them through the prism of Torah. Interpretation is key to understanding.
Jethro achieved an elevated spiritual plateau on his own, but — without a Torah perspective — he was standing on a precarious perch.
Inspiration, in its various forms, dies quickly if there's no reinforcement. This is true no matter how uplifting and enjoyable the action which provoked it may have been. Torah study is the most effective means of stoking the flame of spiritual passion into a full-fledged fire.
SYNTHESIZING HEART AND MIND
There is another dimension to viewing everything through the prism of Torah. Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian (1872-1970) observed, "The distance between the heart and the mind is greater than the distance of heaven to earth." Every individual is comprised of the heart, which is the seat of emotion, and the brain, which represents one's intellect. In order for the soul to achieve its purpose, the heart and the brain must work in harmony. We need both. Emotions motivate us to observe; passion drives our observance. Without intellect, we often fail to understand the truth about Judaism. We have questions that need answers which emotion cannot provide. Likewise, intellect alone will lay the groundwork for a cold, insipid relationship with our faith.
Jethro heard about the miracles. He was on an emotional high. His enthusiasm was piqued, but how long would this stimulation last? At what point would he confront issues that were likely to undermine his positive "feelings"? How much pain could he sustain before the positive feelings would begin to falter? An intellectual understanding of Judaism prepares him for challenges to the heart, as the heart helps him overcome the challenges to his intellectual belief. Moses told Jethro, "You heard; we saw, but — without sitting and studying, without intellectual appreciation of Judaism — your stimulation will begin to wane."
LIVING IN REALITY
Rabbi Yerachmiel Krohm, Shlita, takes a different, albeit practical, approach. Let us analyze why Jethro felt he had to leave Midyan in order to journey out to the barren wilderness to be with the Jewish nation. Jethro was a truth-seeker. His entire life was comprised of one long search for Truth. He was not the only one to have heard about the wonders and miracles that accompanied the exodus of the Jewish nation from Egypt. Many other nations heard, but it left no lasting impression on them. It was like a dream that dissipates once one wakes up. Jethro heard, reflected, and decided to respond to it. He left home and journeyed to the wilderness. He wanted to join this nation.
Moses came out to greet his father-in-law — he and the rest of Jewry. After all, when Moses went out to greet someone, everybody followed along. What an incredible honor this was for Jethro. Moses understood the tremendous danger that confronted his father-in-law. Jethro had heard about all of the wonderful things that had occurred, but the Egyptian exodus was not all a positive experience. The Jews had had to overcome much adversity, pain and travail. Confronting their masters at the banks of the Red Sea was a fearful experience. Battling with Amalek was terrorizing.
In other words, most of the miracles were either preceded or accompanied by adversity. The manna descended from Heaven on a daily basis, but this did not mean that the people did not worry every night lest they would not have breakfast waiting by their door the next morning. Judaism is about man's daily struggle with his fears, inclinations, ego and demons. One for whom the Torah is his guide has something to hold on to, to lean on during periods of uncertainty. Olam Haba, the World to Come, is the ultimate reward for a life of virtue, but the pathway to the Eternal World of Truth is through this world.
Moses was concerned that Jethro might only look at one side of the coin. In order to develop a clear perspective on Judaism, the world has to view the nation through the prism of reality. He, therefore, related the "rest of the story" to Jethro. Yes, we won —- but not without a fight. We live above the rules of nature. Our existence is miraculous. We travel through the travail; we survive the vicissitudes. It is all through the Divine's intervention — if we are deserving.
Reality eludes many of us. It is so much easier to live in a dream world in which everything works out, no one becomes ill, children are perfect, money is always available. Regrettably, it does not always work that way, and it is important that we be realistic about this when presenting Jewish life and observance to someone who is newly initiated. Rabbi Krohm takes us into the field of education, illustrating how too much of the "positive" can defeat our purpose and undermine our goals.
A student presents potential for achievement. The rebbe (spiritual mentor) responds with encouraging comments and excellent grades. He continues to motivate with positive reinforcement, painting an impressive picture of: How far the student can go; all the benefits of being a successful student; how the schools will line up to accept him; and the wonderful opportunities that will avail themselves. The rebbe fails to mention the challenges that appear along the way, hardships he will have to overcome. He convinces the student to continue his education in a specific institution without mentioning that the student will be one of many such special students. It will require diligence far beyond what he has demonstrated in the past in order to maintain his present level of achievement. In other words, it is very easy to present a rosy picture, but is it honest? In order to prevent an illness, one often must be inoculated with a strain of that illness, so that he can build up immunity to it. So, too, must we present the entire picture, so that our students will be prepared and immunized.
Moses related it all to Jethro, because he wanted his father-in-law to make an intelligent decision based upon a clear picture of the reality of Jewish life. When one knows what the future has in store, then the present does not weigh him down. Yes, it will not be easy, but look at the finish line: The World of Truth.
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Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum serves as Director of Special Projects at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. Founding Director of the Academy's Camp STEP, he has guided the program to become the premier Jewish day camp in the Midwest. As National Director of the Academy's Living Memorial Project, he has overseen the publication of a national Holocaust curriculum on "The World That Was". A graduate of Telshe Yeshiva, he is a dynamic writer whose Peninim Al HaTorah inspires thousands world-wide.
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© 2010, Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum
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