Parashat Bo

Shabbat Table Talk

Parashat Bo –Erev Shabbat, January 19, 2018

Week of 14 -20 January

Torah portion: Exodus 10:1-13:16                          Haftarah Jeremiah 46: 13-28

 

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This week the struggle between Moses and Pharaoh continues.  Do we GO (Bo) or not?  Moses and Aaron return again after 7 plagues have struck the Egyptians and warn Pharaoh to let the Israelites go or suffer the 8th plague of locusts.  “Who are the ones to go” asks Pharaoh? (Ex.10:8)  Moses insists “with our young ones, with our elders we will go, with our sons and with our daughters, with our sheep and with our oxen we will go- for it is YHWH’s pilgrimage-festival for us. (10:9) ALL would go.  As with each of the other plagues, Pharaoh asks forgiveness, but his “plea” continues to quickly become meaningless and with his hardened heart he refuses to let the people go.

 

And so, with the 9th plague darkness covers the land.  The 10th and final plague follows. With this YHWH is seen as the “executioner” in the middle of the night, descending into Egypt to redeem the 1st born of the Israelites by the killing of the 1st born male of all families and beasts including the son of Pharaoh.  Moses in the meantime is instructed to mark this as the 1st month of the year and to prepare to leave Egypt. (Ex. 12:1)  With Chapter 12 the narrative leaves the realm of story telling and enters that of ritual.   The Passover event follows with the elders killing lambs and using the blood to paint the door lintels.  The people are told to stay inside until morning.  Cries and wailing break the silence of the night.  This story and ritual have become part of both Jewish and Christian tradition.

 

In this parashat we also witness dramatic changes between master and slaves.  It takes 8 plagues for Pharaoh to recognize that his authority is meaningless.  The Israelites long for freedom from their lives as slaves. By this point their people had been in Egypt for 430 years.  It is thus hard for them to appreciate their new reality as they leave this land.  They will need to recognize more clearly with their journey to freedom that they are dearly loved by God.  It will take time for the people to truly live into this reality and learn to return this great love.

 

The Haftarah of Jeremiah reminds their ancestor, “Have no fear Jacob, my servant: do not despair.  I will save you.  I am with you says the Eternal One.  That promise and covenant is renewed over and over throughout the history of the “chosen ones.”

 

 For Reflection and Discussion: Today we reach the key moment in Exodus with the Passover event.  It is a reminder that “remembering makes the past present again”.  As 2018 begins, the country of Egypt is an important player on the world stage.  Rights and freedom continue to be openly sought for everywhere we look.  The #MeToo and LGBTQ movements are calling for each person to be treated with dignity and respect – as we all share in the divinity of our Creator.    What can we learn from past struggles between the powerless and those in Power? How do we respond to the “cries” of sisters and brothers to be free of oppression, isolation, and shame?  Will this open us to renewed compassion seeking justice for all?

 

Bibliography:    Shekel (The Women’s Torah Commentary – Vermont, 2000); Leibowitz (New Studies in Bereshit (Genesis) – Israel ) ;  Fox ( The Five Books of Moses – New York, 1995) ; Plaut (The Haftarah Commentary, New York, 1996)

 

This week’s teaching commentary was prepared by

Mary Louise Chesley-Cora,  M.A.T. Religious Studies

Bat Kol Alumna, 2001

Email:  chezcor@msn.com

Copyright c 2018

 

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PLEASE NOTE: The weekly Parashah commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their authors, and are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Scriptures. While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol. The commentaries, along with all materials published on the Bat Kol website, are copyrighted by the writers, and are made available for personal and group study, and local church purposes. Permission needed for other purposes. Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome.

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Bat Kol Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem

~~1983-2018~~

“Christians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources.”

Website: www.batkol.info    Parashah Admin. gill@batkol.info

 

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