5785/2025
Matan Torah is by far the most important event in the history of the world. It is the first time that HaKadosh Baruch Hu speaks to the entire Jewish nation and when we finally becomes united with the Torah. Matan Torah is the main event that all other events that happened to the Jewish nation from the beginning of creation lead up to.
Such a monumental and historical moment seems like it should definitely require a good introduction. For example, the Super Bowl is one of the most viewed sports games in America, and fittingly, it has a tremendously long pre-game broadcast. So the question is obvious, what is it about the story of Yitro that it deserves to be the introduction for the most momentous event in history?!
My rebbe, Rabbi Katz Shlit”a, shared with me a beautiful idea from the Radomsker Rebbe as to why it’s specifically the story of Yitro that is the introduction for Matan Torah. The Radomsker Rebbe says that the Torah is teaching us a very fundamental lesson in how to be successful in learning the Torah and growing closer to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. He says that as Jews we have to all be כלי ריקם (empty vessels)- We have to be humble enough and “empty” enough to be filled with the Torah and all its values. If we are like a vessel that’s filled with wine then all the wine that gets poured in overflows and spills out. If we are filled to the top with wine we are closing off our ability to learn and to grow and nothing will be able to make an impact on us. Yitro is the perfect example of a כלי ריקם. According to Rashi, Yitro was the priest of a people that worshiped every single type of Avodah Zarah. Yet since he was a empty vessel, he was able to accumulate the lessons of the Torah and utilize them to grow and to learn how to be a Jew. Yitro didn’t let his knowledge prevent him from learning and growing, and he opened himself up to be able to receive and use the lessons that the Torah teaches. May we all strive to be a כלי ריקם, to always be open to gaining more from the Torah and using its lessons to grow and become better people.