Yisro had been the High Priest to every Idolatrous religion that then existed. He had joined risen in the ranks and eventually came to the leadership role. It was from there that he saw that they were false and so his journey continued. He was desperately seeking the truth. Verse 1 .......

" And Yisro, the Priest of Midian and father in law of Moses heard all that Elokim had done for Moses and to Israel his people, that Ha-Shem had taken

Israel from Egypt."

Rashi says what specific events caused Yisro to come and seek out conversion as a Jew......

" What did he hear? He heard of the splitting of the Red Sea and also the battle that the Jews fought with Amalek"

This explanation is perplexing. The miracle at the Red Sea was the culmination of the Ten Plagues of Egypt. The Gaon of Vilna says it was the greatest of all the miracles. At precisely the moment when the Egyptians were able to strike the fleeing Jews, the sea split at Moses' command. The Jews escape through the waves. Only mad men would have pursed them through the sea; only mad men, or those whom G-d had made their choice to pursue the Jews an irreversible one !

It is easy to imagine Yisro hearing of this and packing his bags to journey to the Jews and Judaism.

The war with Amalek was a very different experience. At the end of last week's Sedra the Jews attacked Moshe for a lack of water. This in turn allowed Amalek to fall on the camp. They had travelled four hundred miles for this purpose. They knew they would be defeated. Their hatred of Jews was so great that they were willing to die themselves if only they could kill some Jews. Their purpose was well calculated. The legend of the people of Israel and G-d was reverberating throughout the world. It was this that they hoped to spoil. Imagine someone throws themselves into a bath of boiling water. Of course they are scalded to death. They have succeeded though in reducing the temperature of the water making it easier for those who follow. A mixture of Kamikaze and SS; Amalek achieved their goal.

It is easy to imagine Yisro hearing of this and unpacking his bags again!

Yet Rashi states that it is both events that convinced Yisro to join the Jewish people. Hearing of the triumph at the Red Sea would not have sufficed. The Amalekite war somehow added something.

Rabbi Yosef Salanter, points out what lay behind the Jews attack on Moses for the lack of water Chpt. 17 Vs.1........

"....And they camped in Refidim and there was no water for the people. And the people quarrelled with Moses and they said, give us water to drink and Moshe said why are you fighting with me why are you testing G-d?"

Again in verse three we see the same type of complaint....

"And the people thirsted for water and the people mumbled against Moses."

The Jews took their complaint to Moses ! Despite all the miracles that they had witnessed, they were still not convinced that G-d had done them.

Maybe Moses, brought up as an Egyptian, was simply better at their occult arts than they themselves.

G-d had to bring a demonstraton that it was He who had saved the Jews. Moses was only the vehicle through which He had acted. They will fight a war against their bitterest enemy in which Moses takes no active part. If their victory is guarenteed only by their prayers for G-d's assistance, they will see that it is G-d who acts for them.

Moses therfore orders Joshua to lead the army. Moses Aaron and Hur go to the top of the mountain. Moses prays on behalf of the Jews but is only able to keep his hands aloft in prayer intermitantly. Eventually he cannot hold up his hands at all. It is the Jews themselves who will guarentee their success. When they pray and focus on G-d, then they succeed in battle. When they don't focus on G-d they fail. Eventually the Jewish people destroy Amalek. In so doing they learn the lesson that ultimately, the contract is between them and HaShem.

It is only when Yisro hears this, that the splitting of the Red Sea is placed into context. Only now is he convinced to convert. Everything G-d did was for the Jews, amongst whom his presence always dwells.

There was once a Jew who was having a convergence of crises. His business seemed on the verge of collapse. His daughter seemed to be on the verge of giving up Jewish observance altogether. There were two great Chassidic Rebbes in the town. He went to one and asked for a Blessing that everything should go well. The blessing was duly given and the Jew felt much better. It occurred to him that it would be a wise move to seek out a second blessing.

Off he went to the other Rebbe and here too received a blessing. Now he felt much better. Sure enough soon he found that the circumstances which threatened his business had reversed. His daughter suddenly changed her mind about her previous rebellion.

Then the conflict started; which Rebbe had produced the miracle? The followers of the first Rebbe insisted it was their leader and the followers of the second claimed the wonder for their leader. The argument raged and generated much heat. Eventually the Chassidim (followers) of one of the Rebbes could take it no longer and went to ask their Rabbi. "Rebbe" they began, "We have to know, whose blessing produced the miracle, was it you or the other Rebbe?" The Rebbe looked at his followers and replied, " It was neither he or I who did the miracle... G-d did the miracle. The problem is, He doesn't have any Chassidim!"

That was the lesson which Yisro saw in the war of Amalek and it was that which made him a Jew.