Yitro

In one of those quirks of fate that life throws at us as if they were riddles from the heavens, I found myself deep in thought over the weekly Parashah, Yitro, while the gears of my mind searched for fuel for a new article. It was almost as if the universe, in its infinite jest, decided to whisper a coded message into my ear disguised as ancient advice.

At the heart of this fortuitous encounter, the wisdom of Yitro reveals itself not just as a mirror for reflection but as a beacon for the current times in Israel. The story tells of a leader, Moses, who is advised to share the weight of his leadership, which distills the essence of humility and collective intelligence.

This ancient parable strangely echoes familiar in the political landscape unfolding before us under the elongated shadow of Benjamin Netanyahu. His government, interwoven with the web of the far right, seems like a plot that drastically deviates from the narrative suggested by this Parashah.

Reflecting on this, I realize that Yitro’s message can be seen as a veiled critique of the centralization of power in the hands of one, especially when it walks hand in hand with ideologies that segregate more than unite. Netanyahu, whose tenure in Israeli politics resembles more an act of preserving the status quo than visionary leadership, seems to ignore the fundamental lesson of Yitro: true strength lies in the ability to recognize when it’s time to make room for new voices, for those who can bring freshness and competence to the art of governing.

Deep down, as a secular Jew who sees in politics not just the exercise of power but the manifestation of collective will, the current situation in Israel cries out for change. The weekly Parashah, then, is not just sacred text; it’s a sign, perhaps even an omen, that Netanyahu’s time has passed. The need to distance from the toxicity of the far right and embrace plurality and competence has never been more pressing.

Thus, as I shape these thoughts into words, I do so not just as someone trying to interpret the signs of the times but as someone who longs for an Israel where justice, equality, and wisdom are the cornerstones of its leadership. May the lesson of Yitro inspire our nation to seek a new direction, one in which the diversity of talents and the generosity of the collective spirit guide us toward a more promising and inclusive future.