JETHRO’S JOURNEY In this week’s parasha, Jethro travels from Midian to the Sinai desert. But if we look carefully, we will see that it’s not just a physical journey that Jethro undertakes. It seems that there is a spiritual journey happening as well. Let me explain. At the beginning of the parasha he is referred to as: “Jethro, the Priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses.” Subsequently, he is simply called “the father-in-law of Moses.” The title, “Priest of Midian,” has been dropped. Indeed from now on, in the bible, Jethro is never referred to anymore as “the Priest of...
DID G-D GIVE PHARAOH CARDIAC DISEASE? Throughout the episode of the Ten Plagues, described in last week’s and this week’s sidra, we read of the ‘hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.’ For the first five plagues, it is Pharaoh who hardens his own heart. For the remainder, we read that it is G-d who hardens Pharaoh’s heart. What does this mean? Did G-d cause him a hardening of the arteries? Did Pharaoh suffer from angina! Of course, we appreciate that the Torah uses the word ‘heart’ figuratively, to refer to the source of a person’s moral, spiritual and intellectual capacities. We still...
FAMILY TREE The drama of the Exodus story has begun. Moses’ first meeting with Pharaoh has had its setback. G-d promises to redeem his people with four expressions of liberation that we reflect in our four cups of wine at the Seder. Then, in the entire sheni or second portion, the narrative is interrupted with a list of names. We are treated to the family background of Moses and Aaron in the tribe of Levi. Moreover, the lineage of the preceding tribes of Reuven and Shimon is also included. We are given details not only of Moses and Aaron, but...
RIGHTEOUS GENTILES Persecution of the Jews begins, in history, in this week parasha. Pharaoh orders Hebrew baby boys to be killed at birth. At the same time, the Torah informs us of gentiles who refused to obey such orders. Pharaoh instructs women who are called HaMeyaldot Ha’Ivriyot – the Hebrew Midwives to carry out his plans. They are called Shifrah and Puah. Rashi (eleventh century), following the Midrash, identifies these women as Yocheved and Miriam, the mother and sister of Moses. Other sources disagree. ‘Hebrew Midwives’ could mean Midwives who are Hebrews, or Midwives to the Hebrews. The first century...
THE RIGHT BLESSING Simchat Torah night in Czarist Russia was an occasion not only of great joy but also great anticipation. The custom in some communities was to auction aliyot for sections in the Torah that were going to be read in the course of the coming year. It was the time of the Czarist draft and it was common that the section from this week’s parasha, HaMalach HaGoel Oti Mikol Ra – “May the angel who protects me from all harm …” would be auctioned for a large sum. It was regarded as a special Segula (protection) for safety...
