Parshas Yisro

Moses' father-in-law said unto him: That which you do is not good... You shall see from among all the able people, G-d fearing men... and let them judge the people at all times (Exodus 18:17,22).

   The Midrash states that because of the counsel which Jethro gave to Moses when he said, "You shall see from among all the people," he was rewarded by the Torah's attributing the judiciary system to him.

    It is noteworthy that although Jethro's counsel to Moses began several verses earlier with the statements "You are not doing right" and "Both you and the nation will be exhausted," the Midrash states that he was rewarded for his positive suggestions, which led to establishing a hierarchy of judges.

    The message of the Midrash is clear. Anyone can criticize, but not everyone can provide helpful advice. It is easy to find faults, but it is not at all easy to provide affective solutions. There is no particular reward for finding faults and criticizing. If one does not have an effective solution for a problem, it is often just as well to hold one's silence.

    Excerpt from Living Each Week, by Rabbi Abraham Twerski, M.D.