General Overview: This week's Torah reading, Shemot, begins the Book
of Exodus. Pharaoh issues harsh decrees against the Israelites,
beginning decades of Jewish suffering and slavery. Moshe is born and
raised in the Egyptian royal palace. After killing an Egyptian, Moshe
escapes to Midian and marries. G‑d appears to him in a burning bush and
demands that he return to Egypt to redeem the Israelites. Moshe returns
to Egypt with the intention of freeing the Jewish people.
Aliya
Summary: Jacob's sons all died. Jacob's descendents in Egypt, however,
were "fruitful and swarmed and increased and became very very strong." A
new Pharaoh arose, and he resolved to find a solution to the "Israelite
problem." He proposed to afflict the Israelites and impose slave labor
upon them, thus preventing them from multiplying. He implemented the
plan, and the Israelites were forced to construct storage cities for
Pharaoh. "But as much as they would afflict them, so did they multiply
and so did they gain strength." Pharaoh then summoned the Hebrew
midwives and instructed them to kill all the Hebrew sons that they
delivered. The righteous midwives feared G‑d, however, and defied
Pharaohs order.
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