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Why does the Torah (תורה) introduce Yisro with three distinct identities in one verse—Yisro, Kohen Midyan, and chosein Moshe? The shiur argues each identity corresponds to a different aspect of what he "heard": Yisro the convert heard about Kriyas Yam Suf (the omnipotence of Borei Olam), Kohen Midyan the political leader heard about malchus (sustenance and protection through the mon, water, and Amalek), and chosein Moshe heard "ki hotzi Hashem (ה׳) es Yisrael miMitzrayim" (the chesed (חסד) and special relationship between Hashem and His nation). Each name reflects a different dimension of his relationship to Torah and Klal Yisrael.
This shiur on Parshas Yisro opens with the fundamental question of why Rashi (רש"י) introduces such seemingly arbitrary distinctions when explaining what Yisro heard. The verse states: "Vayishma Yisro kohen Midyan chosen Moshe es kol asher asah Elokim l'Moshe ul'Yisrael amo, ki hotzi Hashem (ה׳) es Yisrael miMitzrayim." Rashi explains that he heard about Kriyas Yam Suf and Milchemes Amalek, yet the Gemara (גמרא) adds that he heard about the giving of the mon, the be'er (well), and the war with Amalek. The shiur asks: How does Rashi know which events correspond to which part of the verse? What textual indication is there for this breakdown? Rabbi Zweig builds his answer on the observation that the Torah (תורה) introduces Yisro in three distinct ways in a single verse: as Yisro, as Kohen Midyan, and as chosein Moshe. This triple identification is unusual and suggests that each title represents a different facet of his identity and thus relates to different aspects of what he heard. The Torah could have simply said "Yisro heard"—we already know he is Moshe's father-in-law and the priest of Midyan. The deliberate repetition signals that three different dimensions of Yisro's personality are being activated.
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Shemos 18:1 (Parshas Yisro)
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