There's a certain irony to the fact that this week's Sedra, whose highlight is the giving of the Ten Commandments, is named after a Midianite priest.  If it had to be named after anyone it would make so much more sense to name it after our greatest human leader, Moses.  Instead, it's named after his father-in-law! 
    
A close examination of the text reveals a lesser known curiosity of which our sages were aware: the events surrounding Jethro's visit to his famous son-in-law is out of sequence!  As Jethro watches Moses judging the entire nation from morning until evening Moses tells him (Ex.18:16) "I make known (to them) the decrees of God and His teachings." 
 
The only problem with this statement coming where it does, is that to this point, God really hasn't informed anyone very much of "His teachings"!  Ninety-five percent of it starts with the subsequent narrative about the giving of the Ten Commandments and everything that follows.

What's going on here?

Clearly, a lot more than can be said in the space this "blog" allows me.  Nevertheless, here are some headlines.
 

• The reason for the sedra being "named" after Jethro, a non-Israelite, conveys the thought that while Jews are duty bound and obligated to observe the Ten Commandments, these precious concepts apply ultimately to humanity at large.  They are universal in scope.
    
• The story concerning Jethro here, suggests that although he started life as an idolatrous priest, he now took on the belief in the God of Israel. Exodus 18:10,11 reads, "Jethro said, '...Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods...'"
    

• As to the story here being out of sequence; it deals with the application of the Torah and the need to have the community organized sufficiently so that there is a line of authority. (Ex18:25. "Moses chose men of accomplishment from among all Israel and appointed them heads of the people, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties and leaders of tens.  26. They would judge the people at all times; the difficult thing they would bring to Moses and the minor thing they would judge by themselves.")  The main issue remains: the Torah doesn't just reside "in heaven".  To be effective at all, a community has to actually apply its principles to daily living.  That takes organization and a cooperative division of labor.

On Shabbat morning, Hannah Rosenthal, daughter of our members Dan Rosenthal and Laurie Furman will be speaking to us about her experiences during her year's involvement in the Cultural Leadership program.  She will be joined by Thomas Bullocks, a friend from the African American community.  Cultural Leadership provides its participants an in-depth view of the history and heritage of Jewish and Black communities in the United States.  Its ultimate aim is to assist high school juniors and seniors become agents of social change to confront the religious and racial bigotry which currently exists in this country.  Hannah is a junior and Thomas a senior at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School.  Hannah is a charming and articulate speaker and our congregation has had the pleasure of listening to her give a fine public performance on our piano.

Following services, Helene Frankel will offer our next session of Torah Talk.  Helene offers her thoughtful insights and leads the group in a stimulating discussion of the week's Sedra.

Saturday evening the Central Agency for Jewish Education will sponsor a community wide program Havdalah under the Stars at the Science Center starting at 7 pm.  BSKI and Shaare Zedek are jointly sponsoring a booth where children can make their own Havdalah candles. For more information, contact CAJE (314.442.3760) or go to www.cajestl.org.
         
As always, I wish you and your family a Shabbat of refreshment to the spirit and delight to the soul and the conscious awareness of God's greatness in creating the Universe.

B'Shalom,
 
Rabbi Mordecai Miller