In Parashat Yitro (Jethro), Moses is sitting before all of the people of Israel day and night judging between them and answering their questions. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law tells him that this will wear him and the people out eventually, and that he needs to delegate to other righteous men who can judge the people and bring only the big matters to him. Also, God tells the people to sanctify themselves for He will appear to them on the third day. God appears on Mount Sinai and gives the Ten Commandments, but the people cannot stand the lightening, trumpets and thunder when God speaks, and they beg Moses not to let God speak to them anymore but to just tell them what he says. Finally, God gives a command to the people to make Him an altar of unhewn stones. Support my work! https://www.ashsoular.com/donate

In Parashat Beshalach, Pharoah has just let Moses and the children of Israel go free and, on their way, God became a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night over them. But soon after, Pharoah's heart becomes hardened again and he pursues after the children of Israel with his hosts and chariots. As they were approaching, God tells Moses to stretch out his staff over the sea and divide it, and while the sea split God held back Pharaoh with His pillar of cloud and of fire. The sea split all night so that there was dry land so that the Hebrews could walk across. But Pharoah and his army still pursued after them, so God tells Moses to once again stretch out his hand and bring the waters back over the Egyptians and their chariots. The children of Israel are finally free—but that's not where it ends, in fact that's just the beginning. A new life of freedom awaits the Hebrews, but they soon learn what it takes to be free, that their problems don't just disappear with the Egyptians and that now they must depend on God to provide for their every need. Support my work: https://www.ashsoular.com/donate

Parashat "Bo" picks up with God sending the last three plagues on Egypt: locusts, darkness, and the death of every firstborn in Egypt. Throughout these plagues, Pharaoh's heart is hardened—both by his own stubbornness and by God—so he refuses to let the Israelites go, even after admitting he was in the wrong and pleading for the plagues to end. Only after the plague of the firstborn does Pharaoh urgently demand that the Israelites leave immediately (including their flocks) and drives them out. As the Hebrews depart in haste, God instructs them to prepare the Passover sacrifice and slaughter a lamb, put its blood on the doorposts so that the plague passes over their homes, and eat it roasted with matzah and bitter herbs. This portion also details the everlasting ordinances for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the consecration and redemption of the firstborn, and the commandment to remember the Exodus by keeping the feast of Passover forever.

This week's portion is THE PORTION. We are right in the middle of Moses' standoff with Pharoah to let the Hebrews go. Pharoah despite being shown several miracles, continues to harden his heart, so God pours forth His great and mighty wonders resulting in the beginning of the 10 plagues of Egypt. Support my work! www.ashsoular.com

This week's portion is super exciting, almost like someone should make a movie out of it 😉 Parashat Shemot begins the second book of the Torah, also called Shemot in Hebrew (meaning "names"), or "Exodus" in English. It gets its name from the opening line of this portion, listing the names of Jacob's family who came to Egypt. But this portion is really about the story of Moses and God's plan to deliver the Israelites from harsh oppression under a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. The Israelites multiply greatly, so Pharaoh enslaves them with forced labor and decrees that Hebrew midwives must kill all newborn Hebrew boys. The midwives fear God and refuse, so Pharaoh orders all Hebrew boys thrown into the Nile. Moses' mother hides him for three months, then places him in a basket among the reeds. Pharaoh's daughter finds him, takes pity, and adopts him, naming him Moses because she drew him out of the water. Moses grows up, sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, kills the Egyptian, and flees to Midian to escape Pharaoh. In Midian he defends the daughters of the high priest named Jethro at the well, and Jethro welcomes him, giving Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage. God appears to Moses in a burning bush, reveals His name as "I will be what I will be", and says He has seen the affliction of His people. He commands Moses to go to Pharaoh and say, "Let My people go." Moses doubts why God chose him because he is not a good speaker. God gets angry but provides Aaron to speak for him and gives Moses three signs: the staff turning into a serpent, his hand becoming leprous then healed, and Nile water turning to blood. Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and ask to let the people go worship God in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses, accuses them of being lazy, and increases the Hebrew slaves' burdens: no more straw for bricks, yet the same quota. The Israelites complain to Moses. Moses cries out to God, who replies that now he will see what God will do to Pharaoh to force him to let the people go. Support my work! ➡️www.ashsoular.com

Vayechi means "and he lived" and it continues after the 17 years Jacob lived in Egypt. Before he is about to die, Jacob/Israel blesses his 12 children but with the inclusion of Ephraim and Menasseh as if they were his own. Jacob dies and Joseph has him embalmed. Joseph's brothers fear that now that their father has died, Joseph will seek revenge for what they did to him, but instead they are met with forgiveness, as Joseph explains how God used that painful experience to save many lives including theirs and he promises provision for them and their children. This portion ends with Joseph's death at 110 years old. To support my work: www.ashsoular.com

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Parashat Miketz continues the story of Joseph after he interprets the dreams of the Pharaoh's butler and baker. While he is still in prison, Pharaoh begins to have dreams, but no one is able to give him an interpretation. The butler finally remembers Joseph and tells the Pharaoh about him. Joseph is able to interpret his dreams accurately, predicting that there will be a famine after 7 years of plenty, and explains how Egypt will stock up and prepare for it. Pharaoh elevates him to his second-in-command. Meanwhile, Joseph's father Israel and his brothers are facing the famine in Canaan and hear that Egypt has plenty of grain. His brothers go to buy grain and Joseph recognizes them but they do not recognize him. Joseph figures out all kinds of ways to get all of his brothers to come back and stay in Egypt, by tricking them. Finally, this portion ends with Benjamin being set up by Joseph to look guilty of theft so he has to be left behind with him. The brothers, knowing they promised their father they would not return without Benjamin, beg Joseph for mercy, but Joseph sticks to keeping Benjamin with him. Support my work! www.ashsoular.com