Derasha 17 on Yisro 18:20

Parashas Yisro · Passuk 18:20

The Complete Passuk

וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bava Metzia 30b (verified).

Sefaria — Exodus 18:20

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Bava Metzia 30b
והודעת להם את הדרך — זה גמילות חסדים; ילכו — זה ביקור חולים; בה — זו קבורה; ואת המעשה — זה הדין; אשר יעשון — לפנים משורת הדין.

English: “The statutes and the teachings” — these are the main bodies of halachah. “The way in which they must walk” — this is acts of kindness. “And the work that they must do” — this is going beyond the letter of the law.

In context: See the cited source for the full section.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse.

What Is Learned

Yisro’s advice requires the judges not only to know the statutes but to teach the path of kindness and the practice of acting beyond the strict letter of the law.