From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, January 24,25, 2025/24,25 Tevet 5785
The Torah continues with G-d telling Moses to go before Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites leave Egypt. Moses responds that Pharaoh will not listen and apologetically explains that, because of a speech impediment, he is not the person to represent the Jewish people. G-d answers that Moses’ older brother, Aaron will accompany him as a spokesman. Aaron and Moses appear before Pharaoh to request freedom for the Israelites. Pharaoh refuses, and the seven of the ten plagues are set upon Egypt. Pharaoh remains stubborn and will not let the Israelites go.
Morashah: Heritage…This begins the Jewish people’s history and heritage. G-d promises to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel, as their heritage
(Exodus 6:8). A “heritage” may be spiritual, remaining in the recipient’s possession regardless of their actions. The outstanding example of the heritage in Judaism is the Torah, which belongs to the people of Israel forever. The land of Canaan is a marital heritage, conditional on the conduct of the children of Israel.
Go’el:Redeemer is the Hebrew word and term for the kinsman whose duty was in ancient times to provide ransom or to exact vengeance for the lives and property of members of his family. G-d promises to act as the redeemer of the children of Israel, intervening to free them from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 6:6).
The Book of Ezekiel, is the Haftarah that warns the Israelites not to depend on the Egyptians, with whom they made an alliance. Egypt, says Ezekiel, is not a dependable ally, and should not be relied upon. This Haftarah predicts that the King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will conquer Egypt.
Both the Torah and the Haftarah chosen have messages that connect them. The Torah portion is Egypt, a country that Israel could not depend on either in Moses’ times or in the time of Ezekiel. Egypt, the house of bondage and oppression for Israel in the early days, was again the enemy during the last years of the Jewish State.
Today, Egypt has a peace deal with the State of Israel, and Egypt has helped Israel in many ways through the years.
May we pray for the return of the four more female hostages this weekend from Hamas, and that more hostages will continue to be returned.
May the Northern area of Israel with Hezbollah in Lebanon also start seeing an end to the fighting.
Shabbat Shalom V’ Am Ysrael Chai,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder