Yisro: Prison Mike

By Yoni Laub In The Office, there’s an episode where the employees of Dunder Mifflin

find out that their new coworker, Martin, had spent time in prison. Naturally, they

start asking him questions, and as Martin describes his experience—outdoor

time, free meals, even a structured schedule—they begin to wonder if prison

might actually be better than working at a paper company in Scranton. Seeing

this unfold, regional manager Michael Scott calls an emergency meeting, puts

on a bandana, and introduces himself as “Prison Mike” to depict what life in jail

is really like. Prison Mike shares how difficult time in prison can be and reminds

the members of the office how fortunate they are to have freedom and a great

work environment.

Logically, they should already know this. It should be obvious that working at

Dunder Mifflin is better than being in jail. But sometimes, it takes an outsider—

someone who can see the big picture—to help people recognize all of the

bracha they have, even in the face of real challenges.

After hearing about the great miracles that Klal Yisrael experienced, from the 10

Makkos to Kriyas Yam Suf, Yisro travels from his home in Midian to meet his

son-in-law Moshe. The Gemara in Zevachim (116a) explains that Yisro

specifically came after hearing about Kriyas Yam Suf and Klal Yisrael’s victory

over Amalek. But what stands out is not just that these miracles happened, but

that Yisro noticed. He wasn’t there to witness them firsthand, yet he recognized

how incredible they were. Meanwhile, the people who actually lived through

these events—the very ones who walked through the Yam Suf—spent much of

their time complaining, doubting, and even suggesting that maybe they were

better off in Mitzrayim.

The Torah doesn’t just mention Yisro’s reaction—it highlights it. Rashi points out

that one of Yisro’s names, Yeser, reflects his contribution to Torah—he literally

“added” a section by advising Moshe on how to restructure the judicial system.

But beyond that practical advice, his arrival teaches something much deeper:

the power of perspective. Yisro is an outsider, and precisely because of that, he

can see what Klal Yisrael has been too caught up in their own experiences to

appreciate. He recognizes the bracha that they’ve received and the special

connection Klal Yisrael has to Hashem, while they sometimes were focused on

their struggles and challenges.

On the most simple level, this shows the value in seeking advice from people

who are thoughtful and could provide insightful perspectives. We shouldn’t

always assume we know everything, and it’s smart to seek counsel from people,

sometimes specifically those who could provide unique perspectives because

they are looking at it from an outsider’s vantage point.

But on an even deeper level, it’s interesting that Yisro, as an outsider, can see all

of Klal Yisrael’s bracha from Hashem while Klal Yisrael struggles to give the

requisite acknowledgment and appreciation to Hashem. There are multiple

occasions where the Jewish people complain to Hashem that He took them out

only to die in the desert, and they even suggest that maybe it would have been

better to stay in Egypt. It’s surprising that they’re doing this given that they have

just been on the receiving end of so much chesed from Hashem. But sometimes

we’re so consumed within our own situation that we fail to zoom out and see the

bigger picture. Yisro, as an outsider, can see the macro view—he can clearly see

that even if Klal Yisrael is experiencing a slight bump in the road, on a broader

level they have been so fortunate and blessed.

On an individual level, we sometimes fail to zoom out and realize the bracha we

have in our lives because we’re focused on what we are struggling with orבס“ד 3

lacking. We have opportunities, relationships, people who care about us, kochos

that Hashem gave us, but it can be easy to take it all for granted because we’re

so accustomed to the bracha that it becomes an expectation. Instead, we focus

on what’s missing and what we’re struggling with. Yisro, able to see it from an

outsider’s perspective, recognizes all of the bracha. Sometimes we need to

zoom out ourselves and realize and appreciate all the bracha we have from

Hashem.

And on a national level, the same is true. Klal Yisrael faces real struggles, but at

the same time, we have great bracha, and it’s important to zoom out and

recognize how fortunate we are to be a part of Klal Yisrael and how fortunate

Klal Yisrael is to have our relationship with Hashem. Yisro, as an outsider, was

able to see how much Hashem does for Klal Yisrael and how special that

relationship is. We, on both an individual and communal level, should take the

time to zoom out and do the same.

Yisro teaches us that sometimes, we need to step back to fully appreciate what

we have. Whether it’s hearing an outside perspective or just taking the time to

reflect and zoom out, gaining a fresh look at our situation can help us appreciate

all of the Bracha