Get Your Hands Dirty - Parshat Yitro

Get your hands dirty. Do things which are not the most sterile. Take action. Be involved on the doing side. Even those on a high spiritual level should be involved in things which 'dirtify'.

There is an example of this in this week's parsha, Parshat Yitro. Moses is clearly the man of the hour. He just took his people out of the clutches of the greatest international power of his day. He is leading his nation to receive the Torah, that law upon which so many laws and concepts around the world are based. Yet when his father-in-law comes for a visit, Rashi notes, Moses put on an apron and helped serve Yitro his meal.1 There must have been many who, if Moses had asked, would have gladly helped be part of this momentous occasion.  Yet, Moses felt that it would be proper to 'get his own hands dirty' and actually be part of the waiting staff. This kind of example repeats itself with the High Priest on Yom Kippur2 and the Gemara relates the same with King David.3

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, at an occasion honoring the work of Bayit Cham4 in Israel, spoke of the virtue of those who actually go to help others and get their hands dirty in the process calling them true tzadikim, righteous ones.5

We are not here just for ourselves. We are here to help others as well. Hillel was quoted as saying: If I am not for myself, who will be? And if I am only for myself then what am i?"6 Clearly we need to care for our own needs. But we are not to disregard the needs of others.

There is much to be done. Friends need our help. Family needs our help. Strangers need our help. There are many organizations helping others in so many different ways. Delivering food, offering rides to medical treatment, providing blankets in the winter, tutoring kids, providing entertainment in hospitals (a la Patch Adams) and so much more. Some of the ways to help are easier and some more challenging. Find something that is appropriate for you.7 You will notice the difference.

In helping others, people often say: "I got more than I gave."

In doing so, we can rise to the level of Moses. We can even rise to the level of ourselves.

 

Click here to read another logoParsha post on Yitro.

 

  1. Shemot 18:12
  2. Vayikra chapter 16
  3. Berachot 4a
  4. Bayit Cham in Israel has been in the forefront of mental health services throughout Israel: vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health disabilities; full-service mental health clinics; treatment centers for victims of sexual abuse; and public awareness projects to combat stigma, prevent mental illness and abuse as well as promote early intervention. Their phone number is 1599-510-550.
  5. Rabbi Lau based this concept on the sentences at the end of Psalm 146. Anyone who is interested in the full idea as he expressed it can leave their details on my website and I will send it to you.
  6. Avot 1:14. Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl often quoted Hillel in underlining the value of giving to others as essential to our general and spiritual health.
  7. I can help you find something appropriate  - for starters here is a link to some organizations: https://www.guidestar.org/NonprofitDirectory.aspx?cat=8&subcat=47&p=1

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Image courtesy of Dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

For More Information On Logotherapy And How You Can Create A Fuller, More Meaningful Life, Or To Book An Online Session,

  1. Call Me At +972-54-589-3399, or in Israel 054-5893399
  2. Contact Me Thru my email at [email protected]