Parashah #17 Yitro: "Jethro"
Exodus 18:1-20:23 (Jewish numbering)
This week's portion is full of majesty and splendor. It begins quietly with the arrival of Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law who gives wise counsel concerning the structure of leadership. It then crescendos to the awesome revelation of HaShem at Mount Sinai and the declaration of the Ten Words (Ten Commandments). At the end of the giving of the Ten Words, HaShem gives some curious specifications governing building an altar to Him. Shemot 20:21-23 states: "For me you need make only an altar of earth; on it you will sacrifice your burnt offerings, peace offerings, sheep, goats and cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you. If you do make me an altar of stone, you are not to build it of cut stones; for if you use a tool on it, you profane it. Likewise, you are not to use steps to go up to my altar; so that you won't be indecently uncovered.'" Specifically, verse 25 prohibits the use of hewn or dressed stone to make an altar for HaShem. Furthermore, 1 Kings 6:7 records that while the Temple was being built, the stones used in its construction were dressed off site so that no iron tool would be heard within the Temple precinct. Why is this so important, and what can it teach us?
The sages of blessed memory posit a number of reasons why dressed stone is prohibited in the construction of an altar. Some suggest that in using tools on stone, there might exist the temptation to carve images, which is forbidden. Others theorize that since the word for "tool" comes from the root "cherev," which literally means "sword or knife," the tool meant to shorten life should not be used to construct the altar, which aids in prolonging life. Scripture gives us another analogy using unhewn stone that we as believers can utilize.
Unfinished stone is sometimes poetically referred to as living stone. 1 Peter 2:4-5 refers to HaMashiach Yeshua as a living stone, and consequently, we who have put our trust in Him are also called living stones that are being built into a house of praise for G-d. There are some noteworthy characteristics about living stones that have practical significance in how we relate to each other. Living stones are unpolished, have rough edges, and they don't seem to fit together as well as dressed stones would. To put it simply, since we are all living stones, none of us is perfect, and no congregation is perfect. If we ever found "the perfect congregation," we would ruin it as soon as we walked through its doors. The beauty is that HaShem is not looking for perfectly polished, concisely cut stones, molded by man. He is looking for living stones for His habitation. As it is written: "As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him, you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Yeshua the Messiah." (1 Peter 2:4-5) Let us celebrate the unique beauty HaShem has conferred upon each of us.
Shalom uvracha,
Hadassah