The Book of Genesis, Bereishit, ends with Joseph as the primary character. Exodus, Shemot, introduces us to Moses. Both are emblematic of the Jewish people. The greatness of our tradition is that it has survived conquests, tragedies, oppression, near extinction and yet somehow has managed to overcome them. Some see this as the result of Divine Intervention. But Divine Intervention…
Parsha Shemot
A New King
There is a well-known difference of opinion as to whether “A new king arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph” means literally a new king, or one who changed his mind. A new king could have been the result of an invasion and a completely new rule, like when Cyrus of Persia defeated Babylon and created the Persian Empire.…
The Role of Women
We read about Shifra and Pua the two midwives who defied Pharaoh’s instructions to kill the Israelite male children. Their reward was establishing dynasties within the Children of Israel. Think of the times. Kings, Pharaohs had the power to kill at a whim. To try to eliminate a whole nation. It must have taken amazing fortitude and huge risk to…
Moses Runs Away
Sometimes even the bravest of men have to know when to get out of the way and lie low. Moses, brought up in the Palace, went out to see “his people.” It was clear where his loyalty was. Moses struggled with both Egyptian and Israelite opposition. And after killing an Egyptian task master he flees towards Midian. There he arrives…
Who is God ?
Moses encounters God, for the first time, it seems at the Burning Bush. And he is told that he will become the agent of their freedom, their leader. He resists the mission. Finally he gives in. But he asks God to give him some more information as to what or who God is. “Who shall I tell (the people) has…