Vaera

Exodus 6:2-9:35

For full text in Hebrew and English, click here: Exodus 6:2-9:35

In this Torah portion, God tells Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh to demand freedom for the Israelites. Pharaoh refuses to free the Israelite slaves, and God unleashes plagues on the Egyptians. Pharaoh promises to free the Israelites and asks Moses to stop each plague, but each time, God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. The portion ends with the plague of hail stopping and Pharaoh changing his mind once again.

Click here for a summary of Vaera.
Click here for a summary of the Haftarah for Vaera.

Click here for the full text of Vaera in English.

frog plague
The second plague was frogs.

Text Studies

 

Social Action and Environmentalism

 

Overcoming Self-Doubt
Rabbi Neal J. Loevinger, KOLEL 
Lost in Translation
Rachel Farbiarz, AJWS
What’s in a Name?
Cantor Martin Levson, Union for Reform Judaism 
Exacerbating the Plagues
Evan Wolkenstein, AJWS
The True Essence of the Divine
Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Hillel 
The Corruption of Water
Aviva Aiden-Presser, AJWS
Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart?
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg 
Four Steps of Liberation
Rabbi Toba Spitzer, socialaction.com
The Earth is the Lord’s
David Goldblatt, Canfei Nesharim 

From the Denominations

 

Pluralism and Outreach

 

Bearing Fruit in Old Age
Rabbi Bradley Artson, American Jewish University 
Environmental Appreciation
Rabbi Shimon Felix, Bronfman Youth Fellowships
Thanks When Thanks Are Due
Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Jewish Theological Seminary 
Unwilling Audiences
Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Big Tent Judaism 
Brothers Bringing Redemption
Rabbi Avraham Fischer, Orthodox Union 
Part of a Process
Regina Stein, CLAL
Serpents & Snakes
Yossi Ziffer, UJA-Federation of New York
 

Multimedia

The Shechinah: A Supernal Mother
Dr. Sharon Koren, Women of Reform Judaism 
Parshat Vaera Quiz
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies 
Parshat Vaera Challah
Julie Seltzer 
Parshat Vaera for Families
Torah Topics for Today
 
Freedom Within Limits
Torah Topics for Today
 
Free Will
Torah Topics for Today






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