Shalom my friends, this is Simcha Hochbaum of Hebron. This Shabbat, we read about the ultimate revelation, the ultimate kiss from above, the great, great day, the day that God waited for, to be able to bring the Torah to the Jewish nation.
Before we read about receiving the Torah and the Ten Commandments the Torah goes into great description about a reconciliation that took place. between Yitro and Moshe. Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law brought Zipporah back to Moshe uniting the husband and wife and the great joy Yitro expressed upon hearing about all the great miracles that befell the Jewish people.
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach would teach in the name of the Ari’zal that the story of Yitro and Moshe is not a new story. It’s a continuation of the story of Kayin and Hevel.
Back in the beginning of the creation of the world Kayin brought a korban that was rejected. Hevel his brother brought a korban that was accepted. Kayin out of jealousy, of seeing his brother’s success, killed his brother.
In addition to the fight over the korban and the jealousy, there was also a fight over a twin sister that was born, with Kayin claiming that that extra sister belonged to him and he wanted to marry that extra girl that was born.
This Shabbat when Yitro and Moshe meet each other and the joy that Yitro expresses when he hears about the great miracles happen to Jewish people, this is the fixing of Kayin’s reaction of being jealous.
The first thing Yitro does, he brings korbanot, offerings, to Hashem. And in addition, Yitro returns back Zipporah to Moshe Rabeinu, bringing back that very, very spouse that they fought over.
“Ani Hotencha Yitro — I am your father-in-law Yitro.” But originally it was “achi” — “I am your brother.”
We should be privileged before receiving the Torah this Shabbat to bring peace between brothers and to make a vessel to receive the great gift of the holy Torah, blessing all of Israel with strength, the strength of the Torah and the gift of the Torah when we’re privileged to have peace down below and fix the sin of Kayin and Hevel.
