Dear TBZ Community,
These days feel like a mix of waiting and uncertainty—days when we hold hope while grappling with fear. We wish for time to move faster, yet also slower. With the news of a ceasefire agreement that will initially bring some hostages home, we find a glimmer of hope that the anguish, death, and devastation endured by the people of Israel and Gaza over the past 467 days might finally come to an end. We hold our breath, awaiting this moment, knowing the trauma and devastation left in its wake will require tremendous work for a lasting peace.
The wildfires in Southern California linger in our minds as well, a reminder of destruction and pain, as we await the rains that do not come. Each day brings questions about the true cost of this devastation.
Meanwhile, a new federal administration takes office next week, stirring fears and anxieties in many of us. We worry for the most vulnerable among us, as well as for the values of compassion, dignity, and caring that we hold dear.
We hold our breath. We wait. We hope and despair.
In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Shemot, we begin the narrative of the Exodus with a new Pharaoh, the birth of Moshe (Moses), and his journey to lead the Jewish People. This foundational story teaches us that even in the face of tyranny and suffering, we must not give up on our journey toward redemption. Moshe stands at the center of this story—a humble leader who ultimately rises to guide the people of Israel from slavery to freedom. Before that, however, we encounter the powerful story of the מְיַלְּדֹת (midwives), Shiphrah and Puah, who defy Pharaoh’s decree to kill Hebrew baby boys, thereby ensuring Moshe’s survival as a prophet and redeemer.
We read in Exodus 1:15-17:
וַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לַמְיַלְּדֹת הָעִבְרִיֹּת אֲשֶׁר שֵׁם הָאַחַת שִׁפְרָה וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִית פּוּעָה
וַיֹּאמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן אֶת־הָעִבְרִיּוֹת וּרְאִיתֶן עַל־הָאבְנָיִם אִם־בֵּן הוּא וַהֲמִתֶּן אֹתוֹ וְאִם־בַּת הִוא וָחָיָה. וַתִּירֶאןָ הַמְיַלְּדֹת אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְלֹא עָשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֲלֵיהֶן מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם וַתְּחַיֶּיןָ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים
The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, saying, “When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the birthstool: if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, fearing God, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.
In a feminist midrash (interpretation) called “The Midwives Saw and Feared,” written by Orna Piltz in the book Dirshuni (which we study every Wednesday morning at Eat, Pray and Learn), we’re asked to consider the source of the midwives’ belief and trust in God, the power of that faith to inspire individuals to act morally, and to make bold and daring choices that transform reality:
The midwives were asked: Where did you get your fearful awe of God?
And they answered: From the great and deep things that we saw at the birth stool, from the mystery that embraces us morning and evening: human being after human being coming into the world; where does he come from and what does she bring with her? The goodness that her mother sees in him, the compassion and the love that she awakens, crying babies bursting forth from exhausted bodies, and the soft seal of God’s finger imprinted on their faces (page 63).
Their compassion stems from witnessing the miracle of life and the profound connections between mothers and their newborns. This understanding empowers them to resist oppression and evil.
In our time of waiting and uncertainty, let us remember the courage of Shiphrah and Puah, who resisted tyranny, who believed in redemption and compassion amid fear, and let’s be inspired by them, to bring new life, new hope and possibilities into this world.
Parshat Shemot encapsulates an ongoing narrative of humanity. It goes something like this:
There is a new Pharaoh. He is a dangerous tyrant.
The people of Israel are growing in numbers.
He creates systems of oppression to get rid of them.
He enslaves them. He kills their children. He rules over them ruthlessly.
He generates followers: Egyptians that deal with them ruthlessly.
Women courageously thwart his plans.
Someone from his palace defies him, and stands up for justice.
This someone is part of the oppressed minority, he was supposed to die, but he was saved by the women.
So Pharaoh wants to kill him.
He is Moses.
Moses flees. Moses helps the vulnerable.
God selects him to unseat the tyrant.
This essential narrative reveals both the potential for evil and the possibility of salvation. It chronicles the systems of oppression created by human hands and the quiet resistance of those who stand up for justice, even in doubt of their own abilities.
As we hold in our hearts the families of the hostages longing for their loved ones, we pray for this to be a moment of openness and possibility. I write these words with trepidation and a sense of fragility, yet we press on. Like Shiphrah and Puah, we persist. We walk courageously through a world that contains both beauty and devastation.
May this Shabbat bring us peace, strength, and clarity. May we find the courage to forgive, heal, and move forward together, knowing that we do not walk this journey alone.
May God grant blessing and comfort to all of us and our loved ones. May we discover strength, courage, and patience, and open our hearts generously. May those who are ill find healing.
May all the hostages soon return to their families and friends; may peace prevail, and may our leaders prioritize life. May those working for peace be granted strength and courage to continue their sacred work, and may we soon witness peace and dignity for all.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rav Claudia