In talking about the Exodus this week, children play a central role. On the one hand the first born of Egypt are condemned because of their parents’ actions, something that is unfair legally and contradicts Biblical law where one can only be punished for one’s own actions. But in terms of history we are all the products of our homes…
Author: Jeremy Rosen
Mezuzah
There are different versions in our commentaries as to how intensely identified the Children of Israel in Egypt were. Some say that they retained their identity because they didn’t change their names, language or dress. Others say that only a fifth left Egypt because the rest were so assimilated they preferred to stay where they were. This explains why in…
The Point of the Plagues
When Moses begins his long struggle to change Pharaoh’s mind God starts with the signs which were like ‘magic tricks’ at the Burning bush. We are bound to wonder why God bothered to show him these ‘signs’ if Pharaoh’s magicians were able to replicate them. The fact is that they could indeed copy some of them. But in the end,…
Overcoming Resistance
The protracted negotiations between Moses and Pharaoh that were aimed at forcing him to release the Jews, raises a lot of questions. Why couldn’t God have achieved His ends in one fell swoop, in one go? Why did He give Moses certain signs and wonders to perform that Pharaoh’s magicians could copy? Why did Pharaoh keep on changing his mind…
Free Will
If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, he had no choice. It wasn’t fair. I have often heard this said. But what do we mean when we talk about God hardening a person’s heart? Maybe it just means that God allows people to make bad decisions. The Torah uses popular language without going into philosophical detail. We are used to an idea…
A Hard Heart
The Torah uses the word KaVeD, we normally translate this as hard, to harden. Literally it means heavy, stubborn, inflexible in different ways. But also, dignity and, respect. Things we may either be born with or develop or come to be appointed to. So the root word KVD can be used to say He (God) hardened his (Pharaoh’s) heart. But…