Parshat Bo; Exodus 10:1-13:16 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger
One of the central motifs of Judaism is the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Parshat Bo enumerates the last of the plagues from the locust to the slaying of the Egyptian first born. Pharaoh finally agrees to Moses and the Israelites demand to be free. The freedom of the Israelites is not won by earthly battles rather it is Divine warfare that God sends to convince the stubborn Pharaoh of the might of the God of Israel.
Moses, adopted prince of Egypt may be the messenger of God, but it is God who brings the plagues as a response to Pharaohs intransigence. For Pharaoh is seen as not simply as an earthly king by the Egyptians but a God and this is a battle between Gods (even as Pharaoh is only a pretender to the Divine throne). Thus these signs and wonders that God performs must convince the Egyptians, Pharaoh and his courtiers and yes, even the Israelites of the power and awe due the God of Moses and the Israelites. In chapter 11 the text says, Now Adonai had said to Moses, Pharaoh will not heed you, in order that My marvels may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. (Ex. 11:9)
With each plague in this portion, Pharaoh momentarily relents and considers letting the Israelites go. But then willfully changes his mind. The text says that God stiffened Pharaohs heart. But Jewish tradition believes that while all is foreseen, God does give humanity free will. And although Pharaohs heart was hardened, Pharaoh could have used his mind, thought, rationality, and his own free will to overcome the stubbornness implanted by God. He could have used his compassion to understand that oppression of a small minority diminishes the sacred. But instead Pharaoh lets his passions and emotionality and hunger for power rule his being. He cannot read the signs before him that there is indeed a power greater than his own; that power is the power of the one God. His greediness results in the death of his own heir, his son.
This is a lesson for each of us. When we let our ego and hubris rule our character, it always will lead to serious consequences. As in Pharaohs case, the death of his future. This is true for each of us. When we ignore God, ignore the spiritual connection we human beings must have to function properly; our own ego blocks the path of our success. When we allow these negative passions to rule us, it is harder to tap into the divine and the sacred that lifts us to lead lives of holiness. When our ego rules our lives, when we seek power at all costs, these are the true plagues of the spirit. But if we heed Gods rule of logic, love, caring and faith then we can be the kingdom of priests, holy to God that we Jews are called to become.
The parsha concludes with the description of the observance of the first Passover and the subsequent rules for observing this sacred time of year. The remembrance of the exodus from Egypt comes to remind us not only of the great plaques that set us free, but that the bread of affliction, matzah, the simple bread of the ancient Israelites, is still the bread of freedom. Even though baked in haste, the first taste of matzah at the Seder is always sweet just as the firsts taste of freedom is sweet.
Passover reminds us that we are always setting out on a journey toward freedom. We all have our Egyptand Passover is the season to begin those journeys out of the slaveries that bind us.
That is why we conclude the Seder with the messianic hope, Next year in Jerusalem. It is the prayer that our journey to the Promised Land will be fulfilled. And so we pray on Pesach and every day may we go from slavery to freedom, from degradation to dignity, from the rule of evil to the rule of Divine love.
Posted by Lee at January 13, 2005 03:24 PM
