The Torah portion for this past Shabbat, Yitro seems to be divided into two distinct parts. The first part concerns the reunion of Moses with his family and Midianite father-in-law, named Yitro (Jethro). The second part is the giving of the commandments at Mount Sinai. The sages of ancient times believed that the father-in-law of Moses chose to accept the religion of Israel, and became a faithful Jew. The Torah portion of Yitro is a good time to recall how beautiful it is when a person becomes a Jew-by-choice and voluntarily joins themselves to the Jewish people. Throughout our history, we have been enriched by those who have chosen Judaism later in life; often their enthusiasm and passion inspires those of us who were born Jews. The connection to the second part of the Torah portion? The sages also teach that one who chooses Judaism later in life should consider themselves to have been spiritually present at the giving of the Torah at Sinai.
I am a product of the Conservative Movement, and I have been fortunate to see great changes in the Movement. Conservative Judaism has always embraced those who choose Judaism later in life, and is now also welcoming with warmth and appreciation families in which one partner is Jewish. Welcoming interfaith families with love only serves to strengthen the Jewish community, introduce the non-Jewish partner to the warmth and beauty of Judaism, and provide a Jewish spiritual home to those seeking one.
According to the Sages, it was the non-Jew, Yitro, who coined the prayer “Baruch Atah Adonai”-“Blessed Are You O Lord”-May we always act in such a way that the non-Jews who enter our doors are moved to praise God.
The Boxing Rabbi