Parashat: Yitro

Parashat: Yitro
Torah Reading: Genesis 23:1–25:18

“But Moses’ father in-law said to him, ‘The thing you are doing is not good; you will surely wear yourself out and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.’”

— Exodus 18:18–19

Approximately six weeks ago, most of us were getting ready for the New Year — with some of us creating vision boards, writing resolutions, creating intentions, or setting goals. With a fresh new timeline and beginning, we were hopeful that anything was possible, that change was inevitable, and that we were really going to do (or not do) the things that we promised to ourselves.

Then the snow hit. Or the unexpected task/crisis/visitor/event that threw us off. And perhaps we turned away from our resolute nature and faced the very real possibility of not getting back on track. Jethro reminds us (as God told Adam in Genesis 2) of two very important things: first, that being alone is not the way to success, and second, to beware of burnout.

None of us can face the world alone — indeed it is the support systems along the way: the cheerleaders, the questioners, the doubters, who remind us of our whys when we get lost along the way. Upon feeling stuck, we often need another person to help us out of bad places or patterns. Jethro reminds us that this also applies to good leadership. When leading a community, it’s imperative to remember that not everything —not every goal, intention, or resolution — can or should be carried out solely by one person. On the contrary, communities thrive when we find ways to let our strengths bolster our struggles.

— Rabbi Amanda K. Weiss