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Interesting quotes from famous Jews

My father never lived to see his dream come true of an all-Yiddish-speaking Canada.
-David Steinberg

I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up. They have no holidays.
-Henny Youngman

Look at Jewish history. Unrelieved lamenting would be intolerable. So, for every ten Jews beating their breasts, God designated one to be crazy and amuse the breast beaters. By the time I was five I knew I was that one.
-Mel Brooks

The time is at hand when the wearing of a prayer shawl and skullcap will not bar a man from the White House, unless, of course, the man is Jewish.
-Jules Farber

Even if you are Catholic, if you live in New York, you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you are going to be a goy even if you are Jewish.
-Lenny Bruce

The remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.
-Calvin Trillin

Let me tell you the one thing I have against Moses. He took us forty years into the desert in order to bring us to the one place in the Middle East that has no oil!
-Golda Meir

Even a secret agent can't lie to a Jewish mother.
-Peter Malkin

My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
-Benjamin Disraeli

It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it.
-Sam Levenson

Don't be humble; you are not that great.
-Golda Meir

I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I had lost exactly two weeks.
-Joe E. Lewis

A spoken contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.
-Sam Goldwyn

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve immortality through not dying.
-Woody Allen

Whoever called it necking was a poor judge of anatomy.
-Groucho Marx

A politician is a man who will double cross that bridge when he comes to it.
-Oscar Levant

Too bad that all the people who know how to run this country are busy driving taxis and cutting hair.
-George Burns

A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.
-Milton Berle

I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth, even if it costs them their jobs.
-Sam Goldwyn

Television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done.
-Ernie Kovacs

When I bore people at a party, they think it is their fault.
-Henry Kissinger

"DAILY JEWISH WISDOM" is found @ Beliefnet.com

JEWISH WISDOM:

Fear builds walls to bar the light.  - Baal Shem Tov

 

Engage in Torah and charity even with an ulterior motive, for that habit of right doing will lead also to right motivation.  - Talmud: Pesahim, 50b

The sword comes into the world because of justice delayed and because of justice perverted.- Ethics of the Fathers 5:8

Ever since Rabbi Akiba used the Passover seder to plan a revolutionary struggle against the Roman occupiers, the Jews have used the seder to begin concrete work on tikkun (healing and transformation).

- Rabbi Michael Lerner, the Tikkun Magazine Passover supplement 2006

To work out ends of righteousness and love are you called; not merely to enjoy or suffer.

- S.R. Hirsch, "Nineteen Letters," 1836

“Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.”  Golda Meir

The worship of God, though desirable as an end itself, can somehow never be in the right spirit, unless it impels one to the service of man.  - Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan

Concentrate on three things and you will not fall into the grip of sin. Know from where you came, where you are going, and before Whom you will have to give account and reckoning.- Pirkei Avot 3:1

We cannot learn from general principles: there may be exceptions.  - Johanan, Talmud: Kiddushin

A truly generous man is he that always gives, whether it be much or little, before he is asked.- Orchot Tsadiqim

The best security for old age: respect your children.- Sholem Asch

 A Jew can be Jewish with God, against God, but not without God.- Elie Wiesel

He who promotes his own honor at the expense of his neighbor's has no portion in the world to come.- Judah b. Hanina, Genesis Rabbah

Even if all the world tells you, "You are righteous," consider yourself a sinner.  - Rabbi Simlai

Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism and falsehood. The liturgical movement must become a revolutionary movement, seeking to overthrow the forces that continue to destroy the promise, the hope, the vision.- Abraham Joshua Heschel, "On Prayer"

Lose with truth and right rather than gain with falsehood and wrong.- Maimonides, "Tzavaah"

Seek the good in everyone, and reveal it, bring it forth.- Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1811), "Likutey Moharan"

Just as we love ourselves despite the faults we know we have, so should we love our neighbors despite the faults we see in them.- Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov

A man should never impose an overpowering fear upon his household.  - Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 6b

If you add to the truth, you subtract from it.- The Talmud

Love unaccompanied by criticism is not love....Peace unaccompanied by reproof is not peace.- Genesis Rabbah 54:3

5783

SHEMOT
The Hebrew title 'Shmot' meaning names, comes from the first verse: "These are the names of the sons of Israel." The English name Exodus derived from the Greek meaning departure (like the word Exit) refers to the main event described in the book: the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. In the book of Exodus, we move from stories of individuals and families to the story of the Israelite nation. In Exodus, the Hebrews become a nation. The book of Exodus tells of the Israelites' enslavement, and subsequent deliverance with the 10 plagues. Moses leads the people out of Egypt, crossing the Red Sea. They arrive at Sinai, where they receive the 10 Contract terms i.e. Decalogue, and other rules. While Moses is on the mountain, according to one of the three accounts of receiving the Law, the people build a Golden Calf. The remainder of the book describes the architectural details and the construction of a portable sanctuary, the Mishkan - and the Priestly garb - albeit interspersed along with many of the laws among the receiving the Law stories. The themes of slavery and subsequent redemption form the foundation for performance for numerous biblical laws.

The eleven parashiyot, divided into fifty chapters, are: Shmot, Va'Era, Bo, Beshalach, Yitro, Mishpatim, Terumah, Tetzaveh, Ki Tisa, VaYakhel, and Pekudei.

Parashat Yitro

(Jethro)


February 11, 2023

Sh'vat 20, 5783


Exodus 18:1 - 20:23

Haftarah

Isaiah 6:1 - 7:6; 9:5 - 9:6   Ashkenaz or 6:1-13 Sephardic

Triennial portion this week:  1st: 18:1-27  or 2nd and 3rd:  19:1-20:23

or

read the entire portion to make sure to hear the Decalogue for the first triennial.


 translation and transliteration [when available] of torah and haftorah portions below. audio for haftorah link below.


Weekly Torah Commentary is also posted on this site.


To learn more about triennial cycles and their history, you are welcome to use this link:  http://www.onetorah.org/triennial-rotation.html  and see the trichart at

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/19861990/eisenberg_triennial.pdf   You need to scroll down through some history pages before reaching the chart.  If link does not work, copy site info and paste in browser to search.


JPS CONSERVATIVE TRANSLATION AVAILABLE 

Torah  -        jtsa.edu/torah/yitro-torah

Haftorah  -   jtsa.edu/torah/yitro 

Shabbat Yitro


Yitro's Arrival


18:1 Vayishma Yitro chohen Midyan choten Moshe et kol-asher asah Elokim le-Moshe ule-Yisrael amo ki-hotzi HASHEM et-Yisrael miMitzrayim.
And Yitro, the priest of Midyan, Moshe's father-in-law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moshe and for Yisrael His people--that HASHEM had brought Yisrael out of Egypt.


2 Vayikach Yitro choten Moshe et-Tziporah eshet Moshe achar shilucheiha.
Moshe's father-in-law, Yitro took Moshe's wife, Tziporah, after he had sent her back [home],


3 Ve'et shnei vaneiha asher shem ha'echad Gershom ki amar ger hayiti be'eretz nochryah.
along with her two sons.  The name of one was Gershom, because he [Moshe] had said, "I was a stranger in an alien land."


4 Veshem ha'echad Eli'ezer ki-Elokei avi be'ezri vayatzileni mecherev Par'oh.
The name of the [other] one was Eliezer, because the G-d  of my father was my help and rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.


5 Vayavo Yitro choten Moshe uvanav ve'ishto el-Moshe el-hamidbar asher-hu choneh sham har ha'Elokim.
Moshe's father-in-law, Yitro came with his sons and his wife to Moshe in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of G-d.


6 Vayomer el-Moshe ani chotencha Yitro ba eleicha ve'ishtecha ushnei vaneiha imah.
Now he had said to Moshe, "I, your father-in-law Yitro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her."


7 Vayetze Moshe likrat chotno vayishtachu vayishak-lo vayish'alu ish-lere'ehu leshalom vayavo'u ha'ohelah.
So Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent.


8 Vayesaper Moshe lechoteno et kol-asher asah HASHEM le-Par'oh ul-Mitzrayim al odot Yisrael et kol-hatla'ah asher metza'atam baderech vayatzilem HASHEM.
And Moshe told his father-in-law all that HASHEM had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Yisrael's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how HASHEM had delivered them.


9 Vayichad Yitro al kol-hatovah asher-asah HASHEM le-Yisrael asher hitzilo miyad Mitzrayim.
Then Yitro rejoiced for all the good which HASHEM had done for Yisrael, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.


10 Vayomer Yitro baruch HASHEM asher hitzil etchem miyad Mitzrayim umiyad Par'oh asher hitzil et-ha'am mitachat yad-Mitzrayim.
And Yitro said, "Blessed be HASHEM , who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.


11 Atah yadati ki-gadol HASHEM mikol-ha'elohim ki vadavar asher zadu aleihem.
Now I know that HASHEM is greater than all the G-d; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them."


12 Vayikach Yitro choten Moshe olah uzvachim l'Elokim vayavo Aharon vechol ziknei Yisrael le'echol-lechem im-choten Moshe lifnei ha'Elokim.
Then Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to G-d. And Aharon came with all the elders of Yisrael to eat bread with Moshe's father-in-law before G-d.


[Sheni]


13 Vayehi mimachorat vayeshev Moshe lishpot et-ha'am vaya'amod ha'am al-Moshe min-haboker ad-ha'arev.
And so it was, on the next day, that Moshe sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moshe from morning until evening.


14 Vayar choten Moshe et kol-asher-hu oseh la'am vayomer mah-hadavar hazeh asher atah oseh la'am madua atah yoshev levadecha vechol-ha'am nitzav aleycha min-boker ad-arev.
So when Moshe's father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?"


15 Vayomer Moshe lechotno ki-yavo elai ha'am lidrosh Elokim.
And Moshe said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of G-d.


16 Ki-yihyeh lahem davar ba elai veshafateti bein ish uvein re'ehu vehodati et-chukei ha'Elokim ve'et-torotav.
When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of G-d and His laws."


17 Vayomer choten Moshe elav lo-tov hadavar asher atah oseh.
So Moshe's father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.


18 Navol tibol gam-atah gam-ha'am hazeh asher imach ki-chaved mimcha hadavar lo-tuchal asohu levadecha.
Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.


19 Atah shmah bekoli iyatzecha vyhi Elokim imach heyeh atah la'am mul ha'Elokim veheveta atah et-hadevarim el-ha'Elokim.
Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and G-d will be with you: Stand before G-d for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to G-d.


20 Vehizhartah ethem et-hachukim ve'et-hatorot vehodata lahem et-haderech yelchu vah ve'et-hama'aseh asher ya'asun.
And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.


21 Ve'atah techezeh mikol-ha'am anshei-chayil yir'ei Elokim anshei emet son'ei vatsa vesamta alehem sarei alafim sarei me'ot sarei chamishim vesarei asarot.
Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear G-d, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.


22 Veshaftu et-ha'am bechol-et vehayah kol-hadavar hagadol yavi'u eleicha vechol-hadavar hakaton yishpetu-hem vehakel me'aleicha venas'u itach.
And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.


23 Im et-hadavar hazeh ta'aseh vetsivecha Elokim veyacholta amod vegam kol-ha'am hazeh al-mekomo yavo veshalom.
If you do this thing, and G-d so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace."


[Shlishi]


24 Vayishma Moshe lekol chotno vaya'as kol asher amar.
So Moshe heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.


25 Vayivchar Moshe anshei-chayil mikol-Yisrael vayiten otam rashim al-ha'am sarei alafim sarei me'ot sarei chamishim vesarei asarot.
And Moshe chose able men out of all Yisrael, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.


26 Veshaftu et-ha'am bechol-et et-hadavar hakasheh yevi'un el-Moshe vechol-hadavar hakaton yishputu hem.
So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moshe, but they judged every small case themselves.


27 Vayeshalach Moshe et-chotno vayelech lo el-artso.
Then Moshe let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.


[Revi'i]


[Arrival at Mount Sinai]


19:1 Bachodesh hashlishi letzet benei-Yisrael me'eretz Mitzrayim bayom hazeh ba'u midbar Sinai.
In the third month after the children of Yisrael had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.


2 Vayis'u meRfidim vayavo'u midbar Sinai vayachanu bamidbar vayichan-sham Yisrael neged hahar.
For they had departed from Refidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Yisrael camped there before the mountain.


3 UMoshe alah el-ha'Elokim vayikra elav HASHEM min-hahar lemor koh tomar leveit-Yaakov vetageid livnei Yisrael.
And Moshe went up to G-d, and HASHEM called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Yaakov, and tell the children of Yisrael:


4 Atem re'item asher asiti le-Mitzrayim va'esa etchem al-kanfeI nesharim va'avi etchem elai.
'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.


5 Ve'atah im-shamoa tishme'u bekoli ushmartem et-briti viheyitem li sgulah mikol-ha'amim ki-li kol-ha'aretz.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.


6 Ve'atem tiheyu-li mamlechet kohanim vegoy kadosh eleh hadevarim asher tedaber el-benei Yisrael.
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Yisrael."


[Chamishi]


7 Vayavo Moshe vayikra leziknei ha'am vayasem lifneihem et kol-hadevarim ha'eleh asher tzivahu HASHEM.
So Moshe came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which HASHEM commanded him.


8 Vaya'anu chol-ha'am yachdav vayomeru kol asher-diber HASHEM na'aseh vayashev Moshe et-divrei ha'am el-HASHEM.
Then all the people answered together and said, "All that HASHEM has spoken we will do." So Moshe brought back the words of the people to HASHEM.


9 Vayomer HASHEM el-Moshe hineh anochi ba eleicha be'av he'anan ba'avur yishma ha'am bedabri imach vegam-becha ya'aminu le'olam vayaged Moshe et-divrei ha'am el-HASHEM.
And HASHEM said to Moshe, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moshe told the words of the people to HASHEM.


10 Vayomer HASHEM el-Moshe lech el-ha'am vekidashtam hayom umachar vechibesu simlotam.

Then HASHEM said to Moshe, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.


11 Vehayu nechonim layom hashlishi ki bayom hashlishi yered HASHEM le'einei chol-ha'am al-har Sinai.
And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day HASHEM will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.


12 Vehigbalta et-ha'am saviv lemor hishamru lachem alot bahar unegoa bekatzehu kol-hanogea bahar mot yumat.
You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.


13 Lo-tiga bo yad ki-sakol yisakel o-yaroh yiyareh im-behemah im-ish lo yichyeh bimshoch hayovel hemah ya'alu vahar.
Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain."


14 Vayered Moshe min-hahar el-ha'am vayekadesh et-ha'am vayechabsu simlotam.
So Moshe went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.


15 Vayomer el-ha'am heyu nechonim lishloshet yamim al-tigshu el-ishah.
And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives."


16 Vayehi vayom hashlishi biheyot haboker vayehi kolot uvrakim ve'anan kaved al-hahar vekol shofar chazak me'od vayecherad kol-ha'am asher bamachaneh.
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.


17 Vayotze Moshe et-ha'am likrat ha'Elokim min-hamachaneh vayityatzvu betachtit hahar.
And Moshe brought the people out of the camp to meet with G-d, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.


18 Vehar Sinai ashan kulo mipenei asher yarad alav HASHEM ba'esh vaya'al ashano ke'eshen hakivshan vayecherad kol-hahar me'od.
Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because HASHEM descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.


19 Vayehi kol hashofar holech vechazek me'od Moshe yedaber veha'Elokim ya'anenu vekol.
And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moshe spoke, and G-d answered him by voice.


[Shishi]


20 Vayered HASHEM al-har Sinai el-rosh hahar vayikra HASHEM le-Moshe el-rosh hahar vaya'al Moshe.
Then HASHEM came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And HASHEM called Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe went up.


21 Vayomer HASHEM el-Moshe red ha'ed ba'am pen-yehersu el-HASHEM lir'ot venafal mimenu rav.
And HASHEM said to Moshe, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at HASHEM, and many of them perish.


22 Vegam hakohanim hanigashim el-HASHEM yitkadashu pen-yifrotz bahem HASHEM.
Also let the priests who come near HASHEM consecrate themselves, lest HASHEM break out against them."


23 Vayomer Moshe el-HASHEM lo-yuchal ha'am la'alot el-har Sinai ki-atah ha'edotah banu lemor hagbel et-hahar vekidashto.
But Moshe said to HASHEM, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.'"


24 Vayomer elav HASHEM lech-red ve'alita atah ve'Aharon imach vehakohanim veha'am al-yehersu la'alot el-HASHEM pen-yifrotz-bam.
Then HASHEM said to him, "Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aharon with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to HASHEM, lest He break out against them."


25 Vayered Moshe el-ha'am vayomer alehem.
So Moshe went down to the people and spoke to them..


[The Ten Mitzvot]


20:1 Vayedaber Elokim et kol-hadevarim ha'eleh lemor.
And G-d spoke all these words, saying:


2 Anochi HASHEM Elokeicha asher hotseticha me'eretz Mitzrayim mibeit avadim.
"I am HASHEM your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.


3 Lo yihyeh lecha elohim acherim al-panai.
You shall have no other god before Me.


4 Lo ta'aseh-lecha fesel vechol-temunah asher bashamayim mima'al va'asher ba'aretz mitachat va'asher bamayim mitachat la'aretz.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;


5 Lo-tishtachaveh lahem velo ta'ovdem ki anochi HASHEM Elokeicha El kana poked avon avot al-banim al-shileshim ve'al-ribe'im leson'ai.
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, HASHEM your G-d, am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,


6 Ve'oseh chesed la'alafim le'ohavaI uleshomreI mitzvotaI.
but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.


7 Lo tisa et-shem-HASHEM Elokeicha lashav ki lo yenakeh HASHEM et asher-yisa et-shmo lashav.
You shall not take the name of HASHEM your G-d in vain, for HASHEM will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.


8 Zachor et-yom haShabbat lekadsho.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.


9 Sheshet yamim ta'avod ve'asita chol-melachtecha.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work,


10 Veyom hashvi'i Shabbat l'HASHEM Elokeicha lo ta'aseh chol-melachah atah uvincha-uvitecha avdecha va'amatcha uvehemtecha vegercha asher bish'areicha.
but the seventh day is the Sabbath of HASHEM your G-d. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.


11 Ki sheshet-yamim asah HASHEM et-hashamayim ve'et-ha'aretz et-hayam ve'et-kol-asher-bam vayanach bayom hashvi'i al-ken berach HASHEM et-yom haShabbat vayekadeshehu.
For in six days HASHEM made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore HASHEM blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.


12 Kaved et-avicha ve'et-imecha lema'an ya'arichun yameycha al ha'adamah asher-HASHEM Elokeicha noten lach.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which HASHEM your G-d is giving you.


13 Lo tirtzach. Lo tin'af. Lo tignov. Lo-ta'aneh vere'acha ed shaker.
You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.


14 Lo tachmod beit re'echa. Lo tachmod eshet re'echa ve'avdo va'amato veshoro vachamoro vechol asher lere'echa.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."


[Shevi'i]


15 Vechol-ha'am ro'im et-hakolot ve'et-halapidim ve'et kol hashofar ve'et-hahar ashen vayar ha'am vayanu'u vaya'amdu merachok.
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.


16 Vayomru el-Moshe daber-atah imanu venishma'ah ve'al-yedaber imanu Elokim pen-namut.
Then they said to Moshe, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not G-d speak with us, lest we die."


17 Vayomer Moshe el-ha'am al-tira'u ki leva'avur nasot etchem ba ha'Elokim uva'avur tiheyeh yir'ato al-pneichem levilti techeta'u.
And Moshe said to the people, "Do not fear; for G-d has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."

18 Vaya'amod ha'am merachok uMoshe nigash el-ha'arafel asher-sham ha'Elokim.
So the people stood afar off, but Moshe drew near the thick darkness where G-d was.


[Maftir]


19 Vayomer HASHEM el-Moshe koh tomar el-benei Yisrael atem re'item ki min-hashamayim dibarti imachem.
Then HASHEM said to Moshe,
"Thus you shall say to the children of Yisrael: 'You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.


20 Lo ta'asun iti elohei chesef ve'elohei zahav lo ta'asu lachem.
You shall not make anything to be with Me--gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.


21 Mizbach adamah ta'aseh-li vezavachta alav et-oloteicha ve'et-shlameicha et-tzoncha ve'et-bekarecha bechol-hamakom asher azkir et-shmi avo eleicha uverachticha.
An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you.

22 Ve'im-mizbach avanim ta'aseh-li lo-tivneh ethen gazit ki charbecha henafta aleiha vatechaleleha.
And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it.


23 Velo-ta'aleh vema'alot al-mizbechi asher lo-tigaleh ervatcha alav.
Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.'


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Shabbat Yitro

Haftorah Hebrew text with audio and blessings before and after at:

Yitro (Ashkenazim) – Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6
Yitro (Sepharadim) – Isaiah 6:1-13

Please consult with your Rabbi which haftorah you use if uncertain..

Haftarah Yitro
Yeshayahu 6:1 - 7:6 and 9:5 - 9:6

Book of Isaiah ch. 6

  1- Bi-sh-na-t M-o-t Ha-me-le-ch U-zi-ya-hu Va-e-r-e-~ E-t A-do-na-y Y-shei-v A-l Ki-sei-~ Ra-m V-ni-sa-~ V-shu-la-~-v M-lei-i-y-m E-t Ha-hei-y-cha-l:
In the year that King Uziyahu died, I saw HASHEM sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

  2- S-ra-fi-y-m O-m-di-y-m Mi-ma-a-l L-o Shei-sh K-na-fa-yi-m Shei-sh K-na-fa-yi-m L-e-cha-d Bi-sh-ta-yi-m Y-cha-se-~ Fa-na-~-v U-vi-sh-ta-yi-m Y-cha-se-~ Ra-g-la-~-v U-vi-sh-ta-yi-m Y-o-fei-f:
Above it stood serafim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

  3- V-ka-ra-~ Ze-~ E-l Ze-~ V-a-ma-r Ka-d-o-sh Ka-d-o-sh Ka-d-o-sh A-do-na-y-~ Tz-va-o-t M-lo-~ Cha-l Ha-a-re-tz K-v-o-d-o:
And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is HASHEM of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

  4- Va-ya-nu-u A-m-o-t Ha-si-pi-y-m Mi-k-o-l Ha-k-o-rei-~ V-ha-ba-yi-t Yi-ma-lei-~ A-sha-n:
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

  5- Va-o-ma-r O-y Li-y Chi-y Ni-d-mei-y-ti-y Ki-y I-y-sh T-mei-~ S-fa-ta-yi-m A-no-chi-y U-v-t-o-ch A-m T-mei-~ S-fa-ta-yi-m A-no-chi-y Yo-shei-v Ki-y E-t Ha-me-le-ch A-do-na-y-~ Tz-va-o-t Ra-u Ei-y-na-y:
So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, HASHEM of hosts."

  6- Va-ya-a-f Ei-la-y E-cha-d Mi-n Ha-s-ra-fi-y-m U-v-ya-d-o Ri-tz-pa-~ B-me-l-ka-cha-yi-m La-ka-ch Mei-a-l Ha-mi-z-bei-ach:
Then one of the serafim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.

  7- Va-ya-ga-a A-l Pi-y Va-yo-~-me-r Hi-nei-~ Na-ga-a Ze-~ A-l S-fa-te-~-cha V-sa-r A-vo-ne-cha V-cha-ta-~-t-cha T-chu-pa-r:
And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged."


8- Va-e-sh-ma-a E-t K-o-l A-do-na-y O-mei-r E-t Mi-y E-sh-la-ch U-mi-y Yei-le-ch La-nu Va-o-ma-r  Hi-n-ni-y Sh-la-chei-ni-y:
Also I heard the voice of HASHEM, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

  9- Va-yo-~-me-r Lei-ch V-a-ma-r-ta La-a-m Ha-ze-~ Shi-m-u Sha-m-o-a V-a-l Ta-vi-y-nu U-r-u Ra-o V-a-l Tei-da-u:
And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'

10- Ha-sh-mei-n Lei-v Ha-a-m Ha-ze-~ V-a-z-na-~-v Ha-ch-bei-d V-ei-y-na-~-v Ha-sha-a Pe-n Yi-r-e-~ V-ei-y-na-~-v U-v-a-z-na-~-v Yi-sh-ma-a U-l-va-v-o Ya-vi-y-n Va-sha-v V-ra-fa-~ L-o:
"Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed."

11- Va-o-ma-r A-d Ma-ta-y A-do-na-y Va-yo-~-me-r A-d A-she-r I-m Sha-u A-ri-y-m Mei-ei-y-n Y-o-shei-v U-va-ti-y-m Mei-ei-y-n A-da-m V-ha-a-da-ma-~ Ti-sha-e-~ Sh-ma-ma-~:
6:11 Then said I: 'Lord, how long?' And He answered: 'Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste,

12- V-ri-cha-k A-do-na-y-~ E-t Ha-a-da-m V-ra-ba-~ Ha-a-zu-va-~ B-ke-re-v Ha-a-re-tz:
6:12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.


13- V-o-d Ba-~ A-si-ri-ya-~ V-sha-va-~ V-ha-y-ta-~ L-va-ei-r Ka-ei-la-~ V-cha-a-l-o-n A-she-r B-sha-le-che-t Ma-tze-ve-t Ba-m Ze-ra-a Ko-de-sh Ma-tza-v-ta-~:
6:13 And if there be yet a tenth in it, it shall again be eaten up; as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed shall be the stock thereof.'

Sephardim stop here possibly to avoid the passage predicting a leader in Israel often misinterpretted by some as predicting a Messiah

Book of Isaiah Ch. 7

  1-  Va-y-hi-y Bi-y-mei-y A-cha-z Be-n Y-o-ta-m Be-n U-zi-ya-hu Me-le-ch Y-hu-da-~ A-la-~ R-tzi-y-n Me-le-ch A-ra-m U-fe-ka-ch Be-n R-ma-l-ya-hu Me-le-ch Yi-s-ra-ei-l Y-ru-sha-la-m La-mi-l-cha-ma-~ A-le-~-ha V-lo-~ Ya-cho-l L-hi-la-chei-m A-le-~-ha:
7:1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it; but could not prevail against it.

 2- Va-yu-ga-d L-vei-y-t Da-vi-d Lei-~-mo-r Na-cha-~ A-ra-m A-l E-f-ra-yi-m Va-ya-na-a L-va-v-o U-l-va-v A-m-o K-n-o-a A-tzei-y Ya-a-r Mi-p-nei-y Ru-ach:
7:2 And it was told the house of David, saying: 'Aram is confederate with Ephraim.' And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.

 3- Va-yo-~-me-r A-do-na-y-~ E-l Y-sha-ya-hu Tzei-~ Na-~ Li-k-ra-~-t A-cha-z A-ta-~ U-sh-a-r Ya-shu-v B-ne-cha E-l K-tzei-~ T-a-la-t Ha-b-rei-cha-~ Ha-e-l-y-o-na-~ E-l M-si-la-t S-dei-~ Ch-o-vei-s:
7:3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah: 'Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and (f1) Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fullers' field;

[Footnote 1: That is, A remnant shall return)

4- V-a-ma-r-ta Ei-la-~-v Hi-sha-mei-r V-ha-sh-kei-t A-l Ti-y-ra-~ U-l-va-v-cha A-l Yei-ra-ch Mi-sh-nei-y Za-n-v-o-t Ha-u-di-y-m Ha-a-shei-ni-y-m Ha-ei-le-~ Ba-cha-ri-y A-f R-tzi-y-n Va-a-ra-m U-ve-n R-ma-l-ya-hu:
7:4 and say unto him: Keep calm, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of the son of Remaliah.

5- Ya-a-n Ki-y Ya-a-tz A-le-~-cha A-ra-m Ra-a-~ E-f-ra-yi-m U-ve-n R-ma-l-ya-hu Lei-~-mo-r:
7:5 Because Aram hath counselled evil against thee, Ephraim also, and the son of Remaliah, saying:

6- Na-a-le-~ Vi-y-hu-da-~ U-n-ki-y-tze-na-~ V-na-v-ki-e-na-~ Ei-lei-y-nu V-na-m-li-y-ch Me-le-ch B-t-o-cha-~ Ei-t Be-n Ta-v-a-l:
7:6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;


 Chapter 9, verses 5-6

5- Ki-y Ye-le-d Yu-la-d La-nu Bei-n Ni-ta-n La-nu Va-t-hi-y Ha-mi-s-ra-~ A-l Shi-ch-m-o Va-yi-k-ra-~ Sh-m-o Pe-le-~ Y-o-ei-tz Ei-l Gi-b-o-r A-vi-y A-d Sa-r Sha-l-o-m:
9:5 For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called (f4) Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom; (Footnote 4: That is, Wonderful in counsel is God the Mighty, the everlasting Father, the Ruler of peace)

6- L-ma-r-bei-~ L-ma-r-bei-~ Ha-mi-s-ra-~ U-l-sha-l-o-m Ei-y-n Kei-tz A-l Ki-sei-~ Da-vi-d V-a-l Ma-m-la-ch-t-o L-ha-chi-y-n O-ta-~ U-l-sa-a-da-~ B-mi-sh-pa-t U-vi-tz-da-ka-~ Mei-a-ta-~ V-a-d O-la-m Ki-n-a-t Y-ho-va-~ Tz-va-o-t Ta-a-se-~ Zo-~-t:
9:6 That the government may be increased, and of peace there be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it through justice and through righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts doth perform this.

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with thanks to headcoverings by devorah for some of the transliterations and translations during parts of the year

if JPS translation, = 1917 or before

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