God's Voice? Ten Suggestions: A drash on Yitro

© Trisha Arlin

We may not be prophets.
We may not be able to hear God's voice,

But when we open up our books, our Torah, and read

Then the One-ness speaks to us:

1. Know your history.  Know that you are all connected in the One-ness.  Know that it is possible to live in community in love and kindness.
2. Don't worship false idols.
3. Learn that you can disagree about deeply held beliefs without being flippant or disrespectful.
4. Rest at least one day a week and make sure that everyone around you gets to rest as well.  Know that this rest is deep and holy.
5. Honor the elderly. 
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not cheat on your loved ones.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not let the desire for material things rule your life.

Rules to live by, plain common sense...

We know these things, everyone knows these.
But if we know this through Torah

Then perhaps we are in connection

With the holy

(Whatever that means
To us

On any given day)

And perhaps then

We hear God's voice,
And we are heard as well,
In holy conversation.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה
אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך-הָעולָם
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו
וְצִוָּנוּ לַעֲסק  בְּדִבְרֵי-תורָה.

Blessed One-ness, who makes us holy with mitzvot, blessing us with the ability to know ourselves with the words of Torah.