Yitro - יתרו : "Jethro"
Torah : Exodus 18:1-20:23 (26)
Haftarah : Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
Gospel : Matthew 6:1-8:1

Thought for the Week:

At Mount Sinai, God officially proposes to Israel, offering to make them His people if only they will obey Him and keep His covenant. It is like a proposal of marriage. In rabbinic literature, Exodus 19 is often spoken of as the betrothal. God is compared to the suitor and bridegroom. Israel is the bride. The Torah is their ketubah. Moses, in his role as liaison between God and the people, is sometimes described as the "friend of the bridegroom."

Commentary:

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine. (Exodus 19:5)

In Jewish wedding customs, the friend of the bridegroom was the intermediary between the couple. It was the friend's job to present the bride to the groom. Moses filled this role by leading the people to Mount Sinai and conducting the negotiations between God and Israel. When at last the LORD descended on Mount Sinai, Moses led the people out of the camp and to the foot of the mountain, presenting them ...