Questions on Parshas Yisro to think about and discuss:

1. The ten commandments are comprised of two groups reflected in the two Luchos. Why not have all ten on one Luach?
2. Are there any connections between the two sets of five commandments in the Luchos?
3. How many letters are there in the ten commandments and how is this significant?
4. What is a perquisite for receiving the Torah?
5. Since the ten commandments are so important, why do we not say them every day?
6. The possuk (20:15) says that the nation saw the sounds. How can you see sounds that you can only hear?
7. Why are the first two commandments where Hashem speaks directly to the Jews while the other eight are not?
8. When did the episode of Yisro and the judge system transpire – before or after Matan Torah?
9. Moshe had two sons – Gershom and Eliezer each named after an event in his life. (Yisro, 18:3-4). Gershom, his eldest, was called after his living in Midyon while Eliezer was after being saved from being killed by Paro before fleeing to Midyon. Why call the first son, Gershom, after a later event?
10. Does one need to stand up for when the Aseres Hadibrois are read?
11. Why are there special ta’amim for the reading of the Aseres Hadibrois in public – known as Ta’am Elyon?
12. At the end of Parshas Yisro it says that there was a ramp up to the Mizbayach so that the Kohen would not need to take wide steps. Why then do we find steps elsewhere in the Mishkon (e.g. fifteen steps leading up to the Azara and three steps up to the Menorah)?
13. The first five commandments are Bein Odom LeMokoim, between man and Hashem. Why then is the fifth one, honouring parents that seems to be Bein Odom LeChaveiro, between man and his fellow?
14. The Torah was given on Har Sinai, the lowest mountain. Why then not pick the lowest valley – why still give it on a mountain?
15. The last of the ten commandments is Loi Sachmoid, not to desire. How can it be a commandment when these feelings are so naturally ingrained in a person?

Ideas for answers on the general parsha:

1. The first five commandments deal with the mitzvos Bein Odom LeMokom, man and Hashem, while the second deal with Bein Odom Lechaveiro, man and his fellow.
2. Rashi in Shir Hashirim (4:5) brings the comparisons between each parallel commandment. I am Hashem opposite do not kill since a killer minimises the G-dlike form of man. You should not have other gods opposite adultery since the action reflects the same unfaithfulness to the partner. Not saying Hashem’s Name in vain opposite stealing since a robber will end up swearing falsely. Remembering Shabbos opposite not to give false testimony as profaning Shabbos is like giving false testimony against Hashem. Honouring parents opposite jealousy since a jealous man will end up with a child who will not honour him.
3. The Baal Haturim (20:13) brings that they contain 620 letters alluding to the 613 Torah Mitzvos and the seven Noachide Laws. 620 is the gematria of keser, crown, that comes when we do all of these.
4. Rashi (19:2) brings that what is needed is Achdus, unity. We find the same thing by Megillas Ester where the problem was that the Jews were an Am Mifuzor, a nation spread out, meaning having arguments. However, the salvation came about when – Leich Kinos as Kol Hayehudim, they gathered together in unity. This resulted in a reacceptance of Torah, Kemu Vekiblu.
5. The Gemora Brochos (12a) answers that this was done originally but was abolished due to the heretics. They would come to say that by only reading this implies that there was no more Torah other than this.
6. The Rosh (20:1) brings from the Ramban that the first two are the main commandments and therefore are described as being said directly. However, the others not being as fundamental are described as having been heard from Hashem.
7. Before the sin of Odom man was much more spiritual. The five senses were all united and could each also do the function of the other. Immediately after the ten commandments we find this possuk to teach us that the Jews returned to this high spiritual level of Odom before he sinned when all the five senses could do the same as the others. Hence, it was then possible to see the sounds!
8. This is an argument…
9. Even though he was miraculously saved from Paro’s executioner when his neck turned into marble, nevertheless he still faced the threat of Paro sending soldiers to find and kill him. It was only after he no longer feared that this would happen did he name his son, Eliezer, after the now certain saving from Paro.
10. See Moiadim Bizmanim on Shavuos by R’ Zevin for a discussion… One should certainly not tell off those who do not since they have a Teshuvos HaRambam that speaks out against standing up for them! Why are they better than any other part of the Torah that all comes from Hashem!
13. The idea here is that in s situation when a child is face with either listening to his parent (e.g. if they say to do chillul Shabbos) or to Hashem (Who commands to keep the Shabbos) the child must listen to Hashem. Hence ultimately even honouring parents belongs to the category of Bein Odom LeMokoim.
15. The Ibn Ezra gives a moshol that a pauper would not even entertain the thought of marrying the princess since it is totally disconnected to him. The commandment here is for a person to train himself to view other people’s things as being totally out of bounds. Jealousy is evoked when you think that you could have that thing that the other has.