(2) על כל הטובה FOR ALL THE GOODNESS — the goodness in giving the Manna and the well and the Torah — and he rejoiced above all these (more especially), אשר הצילו מיד מצרים THAT HE HAD DELIVERED THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF EGYPT — Until now no slave had ever been able to escape from Egypt because that land was closely shut in on all sides, but these had gone forth six hundred thousand in number (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 18:11:1).
(ד) צריך לפתוח פתחים או חלונו' כנגד ירושלים כדי להתפלל כנגדן וטוב שיהיו בב"ה י"ב חלונות:
(4) It is necessary to open openings or windows in facing Jerusalem, so as to pray opposite them. And it is recommended for a synagogue to have twelve windows.
`The story goes that when the Beit Midrash for [Rav Yehuda Amital's] yeshiva [Yeshivat Har Etzion] was first built, the architect wanted to make it without windows with a view of the surrounding landscape. The rationale was that this design made the building fit in better with the environment. Rav Amital’s response was typical of his perpetual emphasis on the human element in serving G^d: It is the students, rather than the building, who must fit in with the environment! In other words, the place of Torah study is not meant to be a place where students are completely isolated from the outside world; it is a refuge but one that retains a constant awareness of the life of the nation and the world. (Story as told by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir)
Shlomo Yitzchaki (Hebrew: רבי שלמה יצחקי) 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105, today generally known by the acronym Rashi (Hebrew: רש"י, RAbbi SHlomo Itzhaki), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Tanakh. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginner students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Jewish study.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashi
Moses and Israel had much to be grateful and excited about. Is it realistic to expect them to be sensitive to Yitro's feelings when sharing their story? Or is this 'tone policing'?
The sages had two different interpretations of the language for Yitro's reaction to the story. Do you believe it moved him to convert or that it caused him pain? Why?
(There is no right or wrong answer to this question)
We are told our prayer spaces should have windows to the outside world. What does this mean to you?
Are there other 'windows' we need for our prayers?