From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, January 17,18, 2025/17,18 5785
As I am writing this Torah portion there was news about an Israel and Hamas ceasefire and a hostage exchange. While we pray for the rescue of all hostages, some are dead. It is always important for Israel and the Jewish people to rescue the living and return the dead to their families. This deal will be in stages, and the Jewish people and the world wait for further news.
As Jews when someone dies it is a religious obligation and mitzvah to bury the deceased within 24 hours of their death. In some cases families do not live nearby and have to travel and the burial is delayed. Today, many have a Zoom service for those that live far away so they can show their respect.
This Sabbath the Torah starts with the Book of Shemot/Exodus.
A new Pharaoh comes to power who orders all Israelite male children drowned. Baby Moses is put into a basket and set afloat on the Nile River. Moses is saved by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses kills an Egyptian who was fighting with an Israelite slave and flees for his life to Midian. G-d speaks to Moses out of a burning bush and tells him that he and his older brother, Aaron will liberate the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Pharaoh imposes hard labor upon the Israelites.
There are many Judaic concepts and values such as justified civil disobedience, how G-d is conceived by each generation in a different way, the importance of humility, and Sinnat Chinam/Gractious hatred.
The justified civil disobedience were the two Hebrew midwives Shifra and Puah that refused to carry out Pharaoh’s command. They refused to follow Pharaoh’s command out of “fear of G-d.” The sanctity of life and their actions shows that there is a Higher Power than Pharaoh who makes moral demands on human beings. For the lawyers … this was the first recorded case of civil disobedience in defense of a moral cause. Keep in mind that Pharaoh thought he was a god and the son of Ra (the sun god).
As each generation has to find G-d, like the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, even Moses followed a lost lamb and saw the burning bush. This was the moment that G-d revealed Himself to Moses, and G-d calls himself – “I will be what I will be.” These verses show how G-d transcends nature. During the Jonah story G-d casted Jonah into a big fish, until Jonah prayed to G-d. Rashi the medieval commentator and scholar suggests that this teaches that no tongue can ever express all that G-d will be to those who truly believe in Him (Midrash, Shemot Rabbah 3:6 ff.).
Each generation and each of us conceives of G-d in a different manner, and in every age G-d is likely to reveal Himself in new ways.
The importance of humility, a Judaic virtue to be admired, comes from this Torah portion of Moses being called by G-d to free the Israelites. Moses did not think he was worthy of such a task. There is more that you may read, and at Passover, too.
The expression “What is hateful to you, do not do to others,” by and large, Jewish law denounces hatred. Pharaoh in the opening of this Torah portion openly expressed his disdain for the Israelites.
May we pray that the hatred in the Middle East will cease and peace will be obtained speedily in our own days.
May all the hostages are returned to their loved ones.
May the words of PM Golda Meir ring into the ears of other Arab leaders, when she met Anwar Sadat of Egypt when he asked her at their midnight meeting, “How can we ever have peace?” Her answer was, ‘When you love your children a little more and hate ours a lot less, then I will not have to send my children to kill yours.” Sadat signed the peace deal.
Shabbat Shalom v’ Am Ysrael Chai,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder