The Bible explores the complicated relationships between sons-in-law (or daughters-in-law) and fathers- or mothers-in-law in many instances.
There are the dysfunctional relationships, such as Laban and Joseph, or Saul and David. There are the miraculously harmonious relationships, such as Ruth and Naomi. There are also peculiar relationships, such as Judah and Tamar (who end up producing their own child, who is the ancestor of kings and the Messiah).
And then there is the ideal relationship: that of Moses and Jethro.
In the Jewish tradition, the Torah portion in which the Ten Commandments are given is named for Jethro -- not "Ten Commandments," or "Sinai," or even "Moses," but "Jethro." That is because the narrative begins with Jethro offering advice to Moses about how to delegate responsibility so he does not collapse from the immense workload of leading an entire nation. Moses listens -- but then sees his father off (Exodus 18:27), and they live happily ever after.
So the ideal is: the in-laws offer advice, you listen to it, then they leave.
Or... perhaps not. There is some sense among the Torah commentaries that Jethro eventually comes back, and he and/or his descendants join the people in the Holy Land. Regardless, in some sense he is always with the people -- even if not in person. His suggestion to Moses concerned the organization of the Jewish legal system. And it was that which sustained the Jews for millennia.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
