A Pillar of Cloud, a Pillar of Fire

Parshat B'Shallach
Exodus 13:17-17:16

This week's parsha picks up where we left off last week with the escape of
the Jews from Egypt. Once Pharaoh okay'd their "release," the Israelites set off using God's somewhat faulty GPS - instead of taking the more direct route, which would have set them on a path through the land of the Philistines - ripe for a potential conflict, they took a more leisurely route by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Along their way, God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, the better with which to guide them along their way, and a pillar of fire by night, to give them light.

Meanwhile, God hardens Pharaoh's heart, and the Egyptians pursue the escaping slaves. As Pharaoh drew near the encamped slaves, the Israelites caught sight of their advancing foe, and after arriving at the Sea of Reeds, an seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the people begin to express great doubt and fear. Moses lifts up his rod and holds his arm over the sea, and God drove back with a strong wind and turned the sea into dry ground. Once the Israelites reach the opposite side of the sea, the waters close in over their foes, drowning all of the Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and horsemen. Now convinced of the greatness of God, the Israelites, led by Moses and Miriam, sing songs of praise.

As they continue along their way, the Israelites fall victim to great discontent - they go without water for three days before Moses is able to provide adequate drinking water. Shortly thereafter, a hungry people begin to grumble against Moses and Aaron, and they are later given food and manna. On the sixth day, they gather a double portion, for there would be no manna given on Shabbat.

The parsha concludes with an interesting story. After camping at Rephidim, the Israelites are attacked by their first enemy - the Amalekites. Moses instructs Joshua to lead the army, and Moses goes up to a nearby hill with Aaron and Hur - when he reaches the top of the mountain, Moses lifts the rod of God up high, causing the Israelites' army to begin to succeed against the Amalekites. However, when Moses grows weary and lowers his arm, the Amalekites begin to prevail. Moses sits upon a stone and his two companions sit on either side of him; they help to support his arms and Amalek is defeated. God instructs Moses to record these events and to remember Amalek as Israeli's eternal enemy.

For your Shabbat table:

• How do you think the Israelites felt when they left Israel?
• After the Israelites leave Egypt, it says that God hardens Pharaoh's heart, causing him to give chase after his escaping slaves. Why would God do this?
• When the Israelites made it to the other side of the Sea of Reeds, they break out into jubilant song. Why do you think they decided to sing? How can a song help you to express emotions better than simply speaking? What are other ways you use to express yourself?
• The Torah includes the Song of the Sea in this portion - take a look at the image of how it is written (at the top of this post). What is unique about this passage? Why do you think it is written that way?
• The Torah tells us that several times during this portion of their journey (which ultimately took 40 years!), the Israelites grumbled against Moses and God. Has there been a time when you've "grumbled" against someone? Why? How did others react?
• At the end of the portion, it takes two others, Aaron and Hur, to help Moses raise his arms so that the Israelites would prevail over the Amalekites. Why do you think a great man like Moses couldn't do it by himself?

This week's Torah cartoon:

Pass-Over

Parashat Bo
Exodus 10:1-13:16

Synopsis

Moses and Aaron rebuke Pharaoh for refusing to allow the Israelites to go and worship God.  Although Pharaoh's courtiers plead with him to obey God in order to save Egypt, the Pharaoh ignores their advice, and locusts, the eighth plague, come to destroy those parts of Egypt left unharmed by the hail.  The plague is lifted when Pharaoh pleads with Moses and Aaron, but God once again hardens Pharaoh's heart and the Israelites are not free.  Then the plague of darkness falls without warning - only the Israelites have light where they live.

God tells Moses that the next plague will be the last and Moses warns Pharaoh that God will triumph with the slaying of all the firstborn of Egypt.

Prior to the occurrence of the tenth plague, Moses and Aaron instruct the Israelites in the laws of Passover.  On the tenth day of the first month, the people are to slaughter a lamb, smear its blood on their doorposts, and eat its roasted flesh hurriedly in remembrance of the tenth plague and their hasty Exodus from Egypt.  In the future, this festival is to be a time of remembrance for the Israelites.  For seven days, they are to eat only unleavened bread.  Further, the people are commanded to explain these observances to their children so that the festival will be a reminder to all generations that God freed the Israelites from Egypt.

The Israelites apply lamb's blood to their doorposts as they were instructed by Moses.  In the middle of the night, all the firstborn in the land of Egypt are struck down.  The Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and bids them to depart with the Israelites.  Because of their haste in leaving Egypt, the people take their dough with them before it is risen.  They also take spoils from the Egyptians.  The portion concludes with the note that the Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years and at the time of the Exodus, some 600,00 departed from Egypt plus children, livestock, and a mixed multitude of others.

Table Talk Questions:

1. As the plagues grew worse, it seems hard to understand why Pharaoh doesn't given in.  Have you ever had an argument with a friend or sibling and, even though you wanted to make up, you found it very difficult?  What do you think causes someone to be stubborn, even when it seems they shouldn't be?
2. What do you think it would have been like to live through these plagues? 
3. It must have been a challenge for the Israelites to leave so quickly.  What would you prioritize taking with you if you were an Israelite leaving Egypt in a rush? 

And now for this week's Torah cartoon:

Blood and Frogs and Lice, Oh My!

Parashat Va'era
Exodus 6:2-9:35

This portion begins with God reviewing the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  "I have heard the cries of the Israelites," God says, "and I will now fulfill my promise to them, redeeming them from slavery and bringing them into the land which I promised to their ancestors" (6:5).

When Moses tells all this to the Israelites, they will not listen.  So Moses appeals to God, claiming that if the Israelites will not heed him, how can he hope to convince Pharaoh?  God tells Moses that Aaron will be the spokesperson before Pharaoh, and that though God's signs and wonders will be many, Pharaoh will, in the beginning, refuse to give in.  This is because God is going to harden Pharaoh's heart.

When Pharaoh does refuse to allow the Israelites to journey into the wilderness to worship God, the plague of blood and frogs occur.  However, the magicians of Pharaoh duplicate these occurrences.  When the third plague, lice, afflicts the land, the magicians become fearful and tell Pharaoh that this act is the finger of God.  But it is only with the fourth plague, swarms of insects, that Pharaoh begins to show signs of softening, offering to allow the Israelites to worship God within the land of Egypt.  Once the plague abates, however, Pharaoh changes his mind, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh plagues (cattle disease, boils, and hail) follow in swift succession.

Table Talk Questions:

1. "Vaera" means "I appeared."  The portion opens with God using this word to reveal himself to Moses.  What is the first thing you usually tell someone about yourself?  Do you tell them what you like to do in your free time?  Who your parents are?  Where you live?  What do you not want others to know about you right away?
2. We see the beginning of the plagues from the Passover story in Vaera.  Do you think the plagues were only for the Egyptians?  What might the Israelites have thought when witnessing these events?
3. Throughout the Torah, we see different versions of God.  Sometimes God acts like a parent.  Sometimes God acts with anger and punishes.  How would you describe God as God appears in this portion?

This week's Torah cartoon:

Moses' Beginnings

Parshat Shmot
Exodus 1:1 – 6:1

The book of Exodus begins four hundred years after the end of Genesis, by recounting that the descendants of Jacob flourished and multiplied in Egypt “and the land was filled with them.” Then arises a new Pharaoh in Egypt who did not remember Joseph and he perceives the numerous Israelites as a potential threat. Therefore, the Egyptians enslave the Israelites, making life bitter for them. The Pharaoh instructs midwives to kill all male children born to Israelite women. When the midwives, fearing God, do not obey, Pharaoh orders all newborn boys drowned in the Nile River.

Now a certain couple of the house of Levi bear a son and hide him for three months. When the infant can no longer be hidden, his mother sets him afloat in the Nile River in a wicker basket. Miriam, the boy’s sister, is stationed to watch what will become of him. The Pharaoh’s daughter finds the infant and resolves to save him. Miriam arranges for her own mother to nurse and tend him.

When the child is grown, he is brought to the Pharaoh’s daughter to live in the palace as her son. She names him Moses, meaning “drawn out” of the water. When Moses is grown, he kills an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating a Hebrew slave. He is forced to flee Egypt. He goes to Midian, where he becomes a shepherd, a husband, and a father.

One day, while Moses is tending his sheep, God appears to him in a burning bush. God instructs Moses that he is to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the land of Canaan. When Moses protests his inadequacy for the task, God gives him signs through which he is to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh. His brother Aaron is appointed to be his spokesperson. Moses and his wife Tzipporah and his sons begin to journey back to Egypt. One night, God encounters him [it is unclear whether the text refers to Moses or his son] and seeks to kill him. Tzipporah quickly circumcises her son and God leaves him alone.

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh demanding, in the name of God, that the Israelites be permitted to leave Egypt to worship God in the wilderness, but the Pharaoh refuses to heed them. Instead he increases the labor of the Israelites, refusing now to provide them with the straw they need to make bricks.
(Synopsis courtesy of Teaching Torah, by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden)

Questions for your Shabbat table:

• In Pharaoh’s palace, all the princes went to lessons taught by the priests of Egypt– Moses probably went, too. What kinds of subjects do you think Moses studied? What might he have learned that would help him later to become a leader for his people?
• In Genesis, there are many stories about conflicts between siblings (Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers), yet in contrast, this first portion of the book of Exodus shows cooperation between siblings. What is an example of cooperation between Moses and his brother and/or sister? Which pattern is more common in your family – conflict or cooperation?
• In this parsha, the midwives help protect the babies who could not protect themselves. Who helps protect you?

Check out this Torah toon about Shemot: