Parshas Yisro 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Feb 4
- 2 min read
ויאמר יתרו ברוך ה' אשר הציל אתכם מיד מצרים ומיד פרעה אשר הציל את העם ... (יח-י)
After hearing of all the miracles Hashem performed for Klal Yisroel, Yisro felt compelled to join the nation. Upon his arrival at the camp, “Moshe told his father-in-law everything that the Almighty had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Bnei Yisroel’s sake, all the hardships that had befallen them, and how Hashem delivered them.” Yisro responded by blessing Hashem. If Yisro had already heard the story, why did Moshe repeat it to him? What was added that elicited Yisro’s response?
A bochur once came to the Chazon Ish zt”l feeling very discouraged. “I daven every day without results. How can I be passionate when I don’t believe my tefillah is reaching Shamayim?”
The Chazon Ish replied with a question, “Are you inspired when speaking with another person? Do you get emotional when talking with your father or your rebbi? And yet, the relationship exists anyway. Remember, Tefillah is not measured by how you feel when you speak. It is the fact that Hashem desires a relationship with you and you are talking to Him”
In davening we say: "משפיל גאים ומגביה שפלים ועוזר דלים ועונה לעמו בעת שועם אליו". The Chasam Sofer zt”l explains that Hashem lowers the haughty, raises the downtrodden, and helps the needy regardless. Yet, He still waits for us to call out to Him, because He desires our prayer. The greatest proof of this was Yetzias Mitzrayim. Immediately upon leaving Egypt, the Jews faced a life-threatening situation: the sea in front of them, their former oppressors closing in from behind, and wild animals on either side. But if we stop for a moment, do you think Hashem would wipe out His people right after performing all those miracles? Of course not! The situation existed for the sake of tefillah.
This is what Moshe added and Yisro was amazed by; the closeness of Hashem to His people and how our relationship and outreach to Him are so desired. Every word of tefillah is a moment of standing before Hashem. Whether we feel uplifted, tired, inspired, or empty, the connection is created by the act itself, and that is what Hashem desires.