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Why does the Torah (תורה) call Moshe's father-in-law "Yisro" before his conversion, when that was his post-conversion name? The shiur argues that witnessing Moshe's meticulous honesty as a shepherd planted the first seeds of Yisro's journey to Judaism. Jewish integrity—not just miracles—can inspire genuine appreciation and teshuvah.
Rabbi Zweig opens with Rashi (רש"י)'s observation that Yisro had seven names, and that "Yisro" was the name he received after converting to Judaism. This creates a textual difficulty: the Torah (תורה) refers to him as "Yisro" in contexts that chronologically precede his conversion, such as when Moshe was shepherding his flock ("U'Moshe haya ro'eh es tzon Yisro chosno"). Earlier in the narrative, he is called by other names—Reuel when his daughters marry Moshe, and Yeser when Moshe returns to Egypt. Why would the Torah use his post-conversion name in pre-conversion contexts? Rabbi Zweig proposes that the use of the name "Yisro" in these earlier passages signals that what Moshe's father-in-law witnessed during those periods became part of the foundation for his eventual conversion. The parsha itself—"Vayishma Yisro"—lists the stories that brought Yisro to convert: the splitting of the sea, the war with Amalek, and other miracles. But the Torah's retroactive use of "Yisro" suggests that the process began even earlier.
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Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Yisro (Shemos 18:1)
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Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
