Vaera

Exodus 6:2-9:35

In this Torah portion, God tells Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh to demand freedom for the Israelites from slavery. 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.

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
	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 Unversity	Environmental Appreciation Rabbi Shimon Felix, Bronfman Youth Fellowships
Thanks When Thanks Are Due Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Jewish Theological Seminary	Unwilling Audiences Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Jewish Outreach Institute
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
Parashat Vaera Quiz Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Parashat Vaera Challah Julie Seltzer
Parashat Vaera for Families Torah Topics for Today