It’s a question that pops up again and again in Jewish tradition, and one story in particular, about Moses and his father-in-law Jethro, really brings it home.
At first, Moses wasn't exactly thrilled to hear from Jethro. Imagine receiving a letter, and your first instinct is to ignore it! But God, in a moment of profound teaching, tells Moses, "I, through whose word the world came into being, I bring men to Me and do not thrust them back. I permitted Jethro to approach Me, and did not push him from Me. So do thou, too, receive this man, who desires to betake himself under the wings of the Shekinah (שכינה) (the Divine Presence), let him approach, and do not repulse him." This, according to Legends of the Jews, isn’t just a suggestion. It’s a divine directive about how we should treat others: with open arms.
God even gives Moses a little hand-holding, so to speak. God teaches Moses that one should repulse with the left hand, and beckon with the right. It's a powerful image, isn't it?
So, what happens? Well, Moses, along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders, all carrying the sacred Ark, rush out to greet Jethro. And get this: Moses, the Moses, bows before his father-in-law and kisses him! It’s an incredible display of honor and respect, a real testament to the importance of welcoming someone into the fold.
Before diving into the amazing miracles God performed for the Israelites, Moses does something else crucial: he offers Jethro a greeting of peace. As Legends of the Jews tells us, peace is so important that it comes even before praising God. Think about that for a second. Peace precedes even divine worship!
Then, to really draw Jethro closer to faith in God, Moses recounts all the miracles – the Exodus from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the victory over Amalek. But he doesn’t stop there. He paints a picture of the bounty and wonder of God’s gifts. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Moses tells Jethro that the manna they receive tastes like anything they desire – bread, meat, fish... you name it! And the water from the well? It tastes like old wine, new wine, milk, honey – every beverage imaginable! It’s an overwhelming demonstration of divine generosity.
And Moses isn’t finished! He promises Jethro six more gifts from God: the land of Israel, the future world, the new world, the sovereignty of David, and the institutions of priests and Levites. What a future to look forward to!
This story, found within Legends of the Jews, isn’t just a historical anecdote. It’s a timeless lesson about the power of welcoming, the importance of peace, and the boundless generosity of the Divine. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? How can we be more like Moses, and more like God, in our own lives, opening our hearts and arms to those who seek connection and belonging? How can we remember to "repulse with the left hand, and beckon with the right?"