Caryl Goodman and I are on a Mussar Israel trip, studying Mussar with Alan Morinis who will be our scholar in residence on April 24-25, and the keynote at our New England region Mussar Conference on April 26.
I'd like to share a teaching by Alan that I've adapted for this week's parasha, Yitro. Alan taught the concept of 'dan l'hafshchut', which means 'don't jump to conclusions', or to put it in the positive, 'give others the benefit of the doubt'. We often make assumptions about someone's behaviour, and judge them based on those assumptions. Our judgements may be wrong but we have already hardened our hearts, so we may never find out what is really behind the behaviour. When we do this, we close off a path toward greater understanding of the other person. We also close off the possibility of deeper connection with the other.
In this week's parashat Yitro, Moses' father in law, Jethro, comes to visit him in the wilderness after the Exodus. Jethro is not Jewish. Moses might have assumed that someone not Jewish would not understand or be sympathetic to the Israelite cause and distress. If he had made that judgement, he might not have been open to learning anything from Jethro. But Moses did the opposite. He gave Jethro the benefit of the doubt, and assumed the best of his father in law. Rather than assume he had nothing to learn from someone different, he opened his heart and let Jethro in. Therefore, Moses gained alot of wisdom and support from his father in law.
I hope and pray that this Shabbat is filled with open-heartedness, possibilities and new pathways to others.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel, Rabbi Marcia Plumb
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
