Parashas Yisro - Teshuva is the best stain remover !

~ This week's Dvar Torah has been sponsored for Refua Shelema: Rav Tuvia Kadish ben Chaya Meita ~

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Half way into reading this week's Parasha last year, I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why was Yisro zocheh to have a Parasha named after him!?" There were so many other characters throughout our Torah and Yisro was someone who was chosen.

Yisro wasn't an ordinary person. He was once a Rasha, an advisor of Pharoh, an idol-worshiper, and a priest!

I came to the conclusion: Someone who has once tasted sin, participated in idol worship etc, and left it all behind in order to join Bnei Yisroel, is not so simple.

The Ba'alei Ha'Mussar say that a person who has done certain aveiros and then repents has more reward than someone who has never been faced with that same test. They explain the reason is because someone who has tasted the taste of the aveira now has a harder time letting go, which ultimately means putting up a stronger fight.

While processing everything above, I was amazed by the concept of Teshuva!

Yisro lived both worlds; the world of idol worship and the world of Judaism. He chose to do complete Teshuva because he recognized the truth and believed in the One above.

However, what about Yisro's past? Yisro never the less did worship idols! It's one thing to compliment Yisro's accomplishments, but to go so far and name a Parasha after him; was that necessary?

I believe it was very necessary. It's a powerful message; it gives hope to those who have sinned in the past; whether stealing, lieing, committing adultry, etc... We see the power of Teshuva!

The difference between Judaism and other nations are pashut here:

Let's say one were to commit murder; you better believe that name will be found on the police record. Or let's say one gets his licence revoked for driving drunk; that person has just stained his 'credit' on insurance policies, and definitely police records. That stain will never come off. You can plead with the cops and judges all you want, but there's no way you will be able to erase the record.

Judaism on the other hand differs here: Let's say one were to rob a bank; once he/she has done teshuva, that 'stain' is now nullified. It's as if he/she had never commited theft in his/her life. [1]

You don't believe it? I think the title for this week's parasha is proof. Yisro had many stains - before he did teshuva, that is. Once he returned to the truth, he was known as a tzaddik.

You can ask, "What about Parashas Balak or Korach? Those were named after rashaiim, so this week's title is no proof?" The answer is; the title is showing you the difference between tzidkus and rishus. Parashas Balak and Korach show how evil those characters were; mah sh'ein kein by Parashas Yisro - the Torah shows how rightous he was.

May we be zocheh to do complete teshuva!

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso

[1] I heard this idea from Rav Akiva Tatz, shlita's tape.