Moshe in the House of Pharaoh

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  1. The River and the Redeemer

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman

    The Torah tells the story of Moshe's infancy in detail, yet skips his formative years and moves straight to his adulthood stories of rescuing others from injustice. This shiur explores the significance of Moshe’s infancy narrative, emphasizing the textual and symbolic connections between Moshe's Israelite birth mother and his Egyptian adoptive mother (Pharaoh's daughter).

  2. The Double Birth of Moshe

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    Why was it necessary for Moshe to pass from his biological, Jewish mother to an adoptive Egyptian mother? Why did this adoptive mother have to be the daughter of Pharaoh? Why was it necessary for Moshe – future savior of Israel – to be "reborn" in the unique circumstances described in our parasha? Through a close reading of the story we can understand the necessity of this experience, allowing Moshe to emerge as the leader of the Jewish nation who will ultimately guide them out of Egypt to freedom. 

  3. From Egyptian Prince to Israelite Redeemer

    Rabbi Ezra Bick

    It is a commonplace of rabbinic commentary that Bereishit is the story of individuals - the avot - and Shemot is the story of a people. 

    Obviously, there is one outstanding personality in Sefer Shemot; however, while Bereishit can be fairly characterized as the history of individuals, it would not be correct to say that the central theme of Shemot is the life-story of Moshe.  Nonetheless, as we examine the stories in Parshat Shemot, we see that there can be no question that the individual personality of Moshe is an important focus of the story of the exodus, as it is a crucial link in the development of the people of Israel. 

  4. Two Chapters - Two Perspectives

    Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot

    The transition from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2 of sefer Shemot is the change from a general, historiographical overview to a personal, biographical one.

    We may describe the same chronicle on two different levels. On one hand, the national process; on the other hand, we see the private story of Moshe.  The descriptions parallel and complement one another. Each contains that which the other fails to convey. Here lies the crux of the introduction to Sefer Shemot: the realization that both chapters are taking place at the same time, in parallel; that these are not events that are following one another, but rather occurring simultaneously – this changes our understanding of the relationship between slavery and redemption, between anguish and salvation.

  5. A Sign of Faith?

    Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

    Moshe and Aharon confront the Egyptian magicians in the challenge of turning a staff into a serpent. What is the meaning of this test? What is its purpose?

    What was the purpose of the signs that Moshe was commanded to perform before Bnei Yisrael in Parshat Shemot?

    Even if we posit that the signs were meant to provide an initial reinforcement of faith amongst the nation, we still need to clarify their purpose for Pharaoh and his magicians. Was the purpose the same for them? Did the signs lead to faith in God, or in Moshe as a prophet, in the eyes of Pharaoh and his magicians?

    Through a close comparison between the narrative of Pharaoh’s dreams and the signs, we learn that perhaps the signs were not meant to establish faith. They came, just like the dreams had come previously, to convey a message, to present a vision.The signs would teach the Egyptians the meaning of the struggle against Am Yisrael.