Close To Torah

The Seform note some fascinating parallels in the relationship between Moshe and Yisro. We know that the concept of Gilgul, reincarnation, refers to the soul returning again to earth in a different body in order to complete its perfection.

The first two brothers ever were Kayin and Hevel. According to the Midrash, Kayin killed Hevel in an attempt to steal Hevel’s wife. Thus, Kayin was guilty and needed forgiveness for murder and adultery.

Moshe was a Gilgul of Hevel. Hevel’s sin had been that he had looked at the Shechina when Hashem came down to accept his offering. Moshe thus got forgiveness for this by turning away from viewing Hashem at the burning bush.

Yisro was a Gilgul of Kayin. Just as Kayin was a sinner, so too Yisro started off with a tendency towards evil and served all types of Avoda Zarah. However, Yisro resolved this conflict and repented by converting to Judaism!

Interestingly, because Kayin (Yisro) had killed Hevel (Moshe), the daughters of Yisro were thrown into the well to die (as a punishment for Kayin’s murder of Hevel and for adultery [which is punished with strangulation]) and Moshe himself saved them! Also, Yisro (Kayin) finally gave Moshe (Hevel) a wife (Tzippora his daughter) after stealing Hevel’s wife! This is why Yisro brought Tzippora back to Moshe and was very interested to see that they stayed married.

This is just a brief start of all that was going on…

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Parshas Shemos