God's power dominates the action in this week's Torah portion (Vayishlach, Exodus 13:17-17:17). The question this week is, like last week, why so many had to suffer so that the Israelites could gain their freedom.
After 10 plagues strike Egypt, Pharaoh finally relents and sets the people free. Remember that God tells Moses that he hardened Pharaoh's heart specifically so that God would be able to carry out a demonsteration of divine power.
In this week's reading, God tells
Moses to lead the Israelites on a slow walk so that Pharaoh will have a chance to reconsider and try to recapture them. Again, the stated reason is to allow for a show of God's power.
Was there an easier way to achieve the same goal? Let's take a look at that question tonight at Nafshenu's weekly Zoom study.
Starting next week, I want to try something different. A number of Nafshenu people have said they'd be interested in a class that looks at basic aspects of Judaism in a way that does not assume prior knowledge about them.
The truth is that all of us have big gaps in
what we know about Jewish religion, history, philosophy, demographics. And sometimes, things we thought we knew turn out to be wrong (or only half true).
So I will kick off a series I'm calling "But You Were Afraid to Ask." It will cover topics like life after death, where evil comes from, Jews and Jesus, tattoos and burial, circumcision, the
nature of God, who is a Jew, and kashrut.
We'll also try a new meeting day -- Wednesday -- to see if it makes attendance easier for some people.
So please sign on tonight at 7pm. And consider joining next week on
Wednesday night, also at 7.
Here's the link to this week's Zoom Bible study:
Best wishes to all -- Rabbi David
