The verse “Yitro…heard” (Exodus 18:1) sparks a fascinating connection to a seemingly unrelated verse from Job: “The stranger does not stay the night outside” (Job 31:32). What’s the link? Well, the Rabbis are masters at finding threads that connect disparate parts of Torah, revealing deeper patterns of meaning.
The Midrash uses this connection to explore the radical inclusiveness inherent in Judaism. We're reminded of the laws concerning who can partake in the Paschal offering (Exodus 12:43), setting the stage to discuss the status of the ger, the convert, or proselyte.
Now, get this: The Midrash imagines a scenario, and it's A proselyte marries the daughter of an Israelite. Their daughter then marries a kohen, a legitimate priest, and they have a son. Guess what? That son is fit to be the High Priest! He can stand in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple, and offer sacrifices on the altar. As we find in Shemot Rabbah 19:4, this seemingly impossible scenario illustrates the ultimate embrace of the convert. The proselyte, once an outsider, is now, through his lineage, at the very pinnacle of the Israelite religious hierarchy. The Midrash points out: the proselyte is inside, while the Levite, who traditionally holds a place of honor, is now, comparatively, on the outside. It’s a complete reversal! “The stranger does not stay the night outside,” indeed!
But how does Yitro fit into all this? The Midrash connects Yitro’s story to another verse from Job: “I opened my doors for the guest” (Job 31:32). This, the Midrash says, is Yitro. Because of Yitro, God brought down manna from heaven, as it says, “He commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven” (Psalms 78:23).
Yitro’s welcoming spirit, his willingness to embrace the unknown, becomes a catalyst for divine blessing. He becomes, in a way, a model for how we should treat the stranger, the outsider. By welcoming Yitro, the Jewish people, and indeed the world, received an incredible gift.
So, what does this all mean? Perhaps it’s a reminder that our own acts of welcome, of inclusion, can have ripple effects far beyond what we can imagine. Maybe the stranger we welcome today holds the key to unlocking blessings we never thought possible. Just like Yitro. Just like that future High Priest, descended from a convert. The possibilities are truly limitless, aren't they?