Exodus 10:1-13:16
The final plagues strike Egypt, culminating in the death of the firstborn and the release of Israel from bondage. The first Passover is instituted as a ritual of memory, binding future generations to the story of liberation. Bo teaches that freedom must be remembered, narrated, and ritually embodied.
In Parashat Bo
Redemption means more than just escaping physical slavery — it is about how we raise our children. Is it ethical to bind a child to a covenant they never chose? Or is denying a higher purpose the greatest injustice of all? True freedom is found not in limitless choice, but in meaningful obligation — and education itself may be the highest form of redemption.
By Yael Shahar
One of the more perplexing aspects of the Exodus story is the repeated “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart. This phrase—together with another that is equally mysterious—is the key to understanding the true miracle of the Exodus. Virtually every encounter with Pharaoh involves a dialog between two key concepts: the hardening of the heart is paired with God’s showing Pharaoh, the Egyptians, or the Israelites “that I am Hashem.” Why is it so important that the Egyptians learn the mysterious name of God? Surely the primary target for this lesson would be the Israelites themselves! The solution to both questions is bound up in the true miracle of the Exodus—and it isn’t what we commonly think!
A historical lesson from the Exodus
In Parashat HaShavua, The Jewish Year, Parashat Bo and Passover
When reading the story of the Exodus from Egypt, we are confronted with a strange phenomenon: the mashchit (destroyer). What was this mysterious threat?