The turning point of the story of Israel in Egypt is found in a short paragraph in this week’s Parshah. Pharaoh dies and the Jewish people sigh because of their oppression and cry out to G-d. G-d hears their cries, sees their oppression and approaches Moses to begin his mission. What is the meaning of this crying out to G-d of the Jewish people and how does it fit into the wider picture? After all, as many of the commentators point out, G-d had foretold this oppression and even established a time limit for its endurance. The allotted time having passed G-d was now ready to fulfil His promise to redeem His people. Why was prayer necessary? One could simply explain that this paragraph points out that the conditions of oppression detailed in G-d’s promise to Abraham had been fulfilled. The people were so oppressed that they sighed to G-d from their anguish, thus fulfilling G-d’s promise that they would be ’tortured’. Yet if we look at the synopsis of the Exodus story contained in the First Fruits Declaration at the end of Deuteronomy, we discern that it is not so clear. Of the four line synopsis, one whole verse is dedicated to the fact that the people called to G-d and G-d saw their affliction, leading directly to the redemption in the next line. It would appear that rather than simply being an indication of the fulfilment of prophecy, the prayer of the oppressed Jews to G-d was the key to unlocking the gate of redemption. Why was this so? After all the redemption, like the oppression, was part of G-d’s plan. Yet that plan could not work without the Jews turning to G-d. For G-d simply to rescue them from their plight was not enough. They had to want to be redeemed and to realise that only G-d could redeem them. For Israel to be transformed from slaves to a holy people they had first to turn to G-d, even if only in despair. With a new monarch carrying on the policies of the old the Jews realised that all political options were closed. Then they turned to G-d, which was what G-d had been waiting for. This scenario holds an important lesson for us today. The Jewish people seem beset with various problems many of which seem to defy easy solutions. It is our job to seek ways to resolve these issues. Yet in doing so we need to realise that not everything is in our hands. It is also necessary to turn to G-d for help. It may indeed that these problems defy solution precisely because we are meant to realise that maybe only G-d can solve them. We are not absolved from action but should never underestimate the power of prayer.
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, who complains to G-d. |
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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.
PAST PARSHAH PUZZLE
Overgrown wall.
‘A fruitful vine overflowing the wall’.
PARSHAH PUZZLE
One out of seven.
WEEKLY HALAKHA
The Haftorah should be read from a whole Tanakh or from a Haftorah book.
