Torah Commentary

The actions and people that brought about the plagues teach us not only sensitivity towards people but also towards the environment.

The Torah mentions the ages of Moses and Aaron to teach us that age is a source of pride and that by honoring the elderly we bring richness to our own lives.

The differences between the midwives' encounter with Pharaoh and the officers' and taskmasters' encounter teach us to appreciate the context of biblical narratives.

The reference to forgetting Joseph raises questions about how oppression is linked to a group's commitment to the larger society.

The antidote to the terror of living in a dangerous world is to participate in the liberation of others.

The complicated beginnings of the Exodus from Egypt establish the expectation that redemption is often not a smooth process.

The divine name that God tells Moses at the burning bush expresses the different and evolving relationship that God has with every individual.

Shifra and Puah's defiance of Pharaoh's decree and allegiance to God set the stage for the liberation of the Israelites.

The debate over how Moses killed the Egyptian has implications for the Jewish response to political and military power.

By listing the names of Jacob's family members who went into Egypt the Torah reminds us of the number of people who affect our lives.