In this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, music is the highlight of our story. After the sea splits and the Israelites are on the other side, we read, “Az yashir Moshe u’vnei Yisrael,” which translates to “Then Moses and the Israelites sang.” And after this initial song of praise and awe, Miriam picks up her timbrel Continue Reading »
This week’s Torah portion is the second in the Book of Exodus. In Parashat Va’era God tells Moses that the time has come to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Moses is told that he should go before Pharaoh to ask that the Egyptian ruler to allow the Israelites to depart. Twice Moses responds by Continue Reading »
As we have just passed the halfway point of our observance of the Passover, many of us are still feeling connected to the themes presented in the Haggadah, the ideas and theology of the Seder. For me this year, the image of Egypt looms large. There I see a power-hungry Pharaoh who rejects God’s ideas Continue Reading »
“In every generation, each person is obligated to see themselves as though they had come out of Egypt.” Each year, these words from the Passover Haggadah hit a little differently. This year, I have been thinking a lot about something like this: what does it mean to remember the triumphant moments in the Exodus story, Continue Reading »
