EXOD279 A person who attains a high spiritual level must still remember his obligations to his fellow man. Rashi cites the Mechilta which explains that Yisro sent the following message to Moshe: "If you do not want to come to greet me, come for the sake of your wife; and if you do not want to come to greet your wife, come for the sake of her two sons." Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv writes that Yisro was a great philosopher; a sincere and honest seeker of truth. He had experimented with every available form of idolatry, and attained to the awareness that each was void and meaningless (See Rashi to Shmos 18:11). Finally he embraced Judaism. Before he studied, however, he did not know that it was possible for a person to attain a high spiritual level, and still retain a strong interest in his fellow man. He had thought that the two goals were diametrically opposed. He therefore sent Moshe a message that he should come to greet his father-in-law; if not him, his wife; if not his wife, his children. That is, Yisro hinted to Moshe, "You might have reached the apex of spirituality, but you must nevertheless fulfill your social obligations." But the truth is that the Torah encourages us to attain high levels in both spheres: our relationship with God and our relationship with man. It is no light task to excel in both. It takes much effort, but that is our obligation. (Chochmah Umussar, vol. 2, p. 222)