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Why does the Torah (תורה) emphasize that Putiel "fattened calves for idolatry"? The shiur develops that beautifying service—even to false gods—reveals Yisro's genuine search for truth rooted in respect, not self-justification. This middah of giving honor to the divine became the fertile ground for his eventual conversion and explains why "zeh Keili v'anvehu" (beautifying mitzvos) was Klal Yisrael's first response at the Red Sea.
This shiur explores the puzzling description of Yisro as "Putiel—one who fattened calves for idolatry" in Parshas Vaeira. Rashi (רש"י) identifies Putiel as a descendant of Yisro, whose defining characteristic was that he beautified his idol worship by preparing the finest sacrifices. The Shevatim later mocked Pinchas for this ancestry, saying his grandfather served idolatry. This raises several difficulties: (1) How can the Torah (תורה) or anyone remind a convert of past sins, violating the prohibition of lo soneih l'geir? (2) The Gemara (גמרא) in Bava Basra criticizes Moshe for marrying into Yisro's family, suggesting this caused his descendants to be problematic, yet Aharon's family—who also married into Yisro's line through Pinchas—turned out righteous. (3) How could Moshe agree to Yisro's condition that the first child be raised "for idolatry"? Rabbi Zweig explains that the Torah's reference to Yisro "fattening" sacrifices is not a criticism but praise. The word "Putiel" emphasizes that Yisro went beyond mere compliance—he prepared the most beautiful, elaborate offerings. This reveals that even in his idol worship, Yisro was motivated by a genuine search for truth through respect and submission to a deity, not self-aggrandizement or self-justification. Yisro understood that serving God means making oneself smaller and the deity greater. This stands in stark contrast to Kayin, who brought an inferior offering because his service was about paying God off to maintain independence, not about genuine submission.
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Shemos 6:25 (Parshas Vaeira)
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