"Gentlemen—and most esteemed Ladies—pray, lend me your ears.
We find ourselves today looking upon the ancient records of the Israelites, specifically the arrival of one Jethro, a priest of Midian, to the camp of Moses. As I reflect upon this Parshat Yitro, I cannot help but see the hand of Providence guiding our own American experiment in much the same fashion."
On the Bosom of Hospitality
"When Jethro approached the camp, Moses did not demand a ledger of his ancestry or a tithe of his foreign gods. No, the Scripture says Moses went out to meet him, bowed low, and brought him into the tent.
I have always maintained that the bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respected Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations. Moses understood that a leader’s tent is not made smaller by the presence of a foreigner, but rather more secure. Jethro brought with him the counsel of a wise administrator—reminding Moses that a man who attempts to judge every small grievance alone will surely wear away, like a stone under a waterfall. Even a Prophet requires a cabinet of advisors, lest the burden of governance break the spirit of the governor."
The Palladium of Unity
"Then we come to the Great Assemblage at the foot of Sinai. It is written that Israel camped there as one man. In my own time, I have often warned that Unity of government is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence. At Sinai, there was no Virginia faction, no Massachusetts interest. There was only the 'Palladium of their political safety'—the Law. When they stood together, the thunder and the smoke of the mountain did not scatter them; it bound them. If a ragtag collection of former bondsmen can find such harmony beneath a mountain, surely we, in this great Republic, can find the resolve to remain one people, under one Constitution."
A Word on the Household
"Now, I must speak a word on my own dear Martha. She is a woman of formidable spirit, much like Moses’ wife, Tzipora. Martha has often noted with great interest that Tzipora was a woman of the East, a 'Cushite' of dark complexion. In our own history, some might see such a union as an 'amalgamation' to be feared, but Martha—ever the practical Virginian—sees it as a testament to Moses' character. He chose a woman of strength from a foreign land, a woman who saved his life when the shadows grew long in the desert.
She often reminds me, 'George, if a man of God can find his greatest ally in a woman of a different race and tongue, perhaps you can find it in your heart to be a bit more patient with the various characters who frequent our table at Mount Vernon.' She is, as always, quite correct."
"Let us, therefore, depart this assembly with a renewed commitment to our fellow citizens, a hospitable heart for the stranger, and a firm reliance on the Author of the Universe.
I remain, your most obedient servant,
G. Washington"
