‘And this is the sign that I have sent you: when you will have brought the people out of Egypt, they will serve G-d on this mountain’. All the commentators have struggled with the meaning of this sentence. How is an event that will take place after the Exodus, a sign that G-d will perform the Exodus, which was, after all, Moses’ original request? I would suggest that a solution can be found in G-d’s answer to Moses’ second question: who are You? There, G-d famously replies: ‘I am who I am’, but in fact His real answer comes later. Moses should tell the Jewish people that the G-d of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has spoken to him; and ‘this is My name for ever and My title for all generations’. In other words, the Jews should understand that not an amorphous Deity ensconced in Heaven promises to redeem them, but the G-d of history, and specifically, their history. G-d takes an interest in a bunch of slaves because they are His people and He has connected His name to their destiny. Furthermore, this G-d of their fathers has a purpose for their future. This is the meaning of the enigmatic promise of the Revelation at Sinai, quoted above. G-d will redeem them from Egypt in order to bring them to receive the Torah at Mt Sinai and it is this destiny that will justify their redemption. These answers will convince the people of Moses’ authenticity because they resonate with what they know about themselves. They are aware that they are descendants of men who had a personal relationship with G-d. They are also aware that G-d promised the Patriarchs that their children would have a great destiny that would be of significance for the whole world. Thus, when Moses appears to them, not only speaking in the name of the G-d of their fathers, but also hinting at the great purpose that lies in store for them; they intuitively sense he is speaking the truth and believe him. These two aspects of Jewish belief and history are important to remember; especially in times of crisis, when it may seem G-d has forgotten us. Firstly, G-d is our G-d. He is the G-d who has linked His name to us. Whether for good or bad, what happens to the Jewish people, reflects on G-d. Furthermore, we are essential to his purpose for the world; even if we do not exactly understand how or why. For these reasons we should never despair of Divine help; even when it seems lacking. G-d will never abandon Israel for He is, in this world at least, the G-d of Israel.
ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS
Rishon |
A new Pharaoh starts to persecute the Jews. He orders all the new born boys to be killed. |
Sheni |
Moses is born and put in an ark on the river. He is found and adopted by Pharaoh‘s daughter. |
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Shelishi |
Moses kills an Egyptian and is forced to flee to Midian. He marries and has a son. |
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Revi’i |
G-d appears to Moses in a burning bush and tells him he is to take the Jews out of Egypt. |
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Chamishi |
With great reluctance, Moses is forced to agree to his mission. |
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Shishi |
Moses returns to Egypt after being almost killed for not circumcising his son. The people believe him. |
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Shevi’i |
Pharaoh refuses to let the people go and increases their workload. The people attack Moses. |
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Haftorah |
Isaiah: 2;1-12: G-d will in the future redeem Israel as he did from Egypt. |
Sidra Statistics
Parshat Shemot
· has 124 verses ;
· is the 1st in Exodus, 13th in the Torah
· 2nd longest in Exodus, 14th longest in the Torah
· has no mitzvot.
