Sunday, January 13, 2013

Bo' (Exodus 10:1-13:16)


Don’t Settle Down

            Parasha Bo’ finds Pharaoh not swayed by 8 of Hashem’s 10 plagues. Moses and Aaron are sent by the L-rd one last time to ask for freedom for the Israelites. Still hard-hearted, Pharaoh says no. The final plague, the killing of the first-born sons of the Egyptians takes place. The Israelites are spared by placing lambs’ blood on their doorways in an event that is remembered today in the festival of Pesach, or Passover. Finally, Pharaoh commands the Israelites to depart.
            Imagine the courage it took for Moses and Aaron to go into Pharaoh’s court, not just once but multiple times. Now consider how brave the Israelites had to have been to leave the only land they had ever known to follow a G-d they couldn’t see or hear. Today, we are basically settled, but we shouldn’t get too content. Like the Israelites, we should be ready to follow Hashem and get a little shaken up at times. We need to get out of our spiritual comfort zones. Whether it be learning a new nigun or taking on more mitzvot, let’s get moving for Hashem.

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