for Parshat BeHaalotcha
i
Yitro,
Moses’ father-in-law,
has traveled from his home country
to the Desert,
to the Camp of Israel.
*
Moses says to him:
journey with us to the Land—
because you know how we encamp in the Desert
and you will become our eyes.
*
Not:
you know the way through the Desert,
coming from afar.
But:
you know how we encamp—
encircling the Tent of God,
a people with God at it’s center.
ii
Now compare this
with what God says later:
Do not stray after your heart
and after your eyes,
your exploration
flowing from your heart
flowing from your eyes
out to the world,
out to sin.
iii
There is good to find
in the world outside,
beyond the Desert,
beyond yourself.
There is a Promised Land.
To find it,
first you must learn to look
toward the center of things.
Yitro has done this,
leaving the wide world
to seek the people
with God at its heart.
*
Yitro has done this,
and now Yitro can become looking itself.
Yitro can become like eyes.
_____
Shabbat shalom,
Abe
Notes: 1) In the text here, Moses’ father-in-law is referred to as Chovev the son of Reu’el, not Yitro. 2) earlier in the Torah, when Moses’ father-in-law (there called Yitro) joins the People, the Camp is not yet organized. Still, I think my point is valid.
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