Shabbat Message: The Ten Plagues

January 4, 2019
By Beth Mordecai
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Shabbat Message: The Ten Plagues

Our parsha, Vaera recounts the first seven of the ten plagues God brings to Egypt. During Shabbat services, on Friday night at 8 PM we will discuss the scientific rationale behind the 10 plagues and if they matter to us.
God sends the first plague, turning the water in Egypt to blood. The Tora text states, “The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron: Take your rod and hold out your arm over the waters of Egypt…that they may turn to blood…” Exodus 7:19
Further, God asks Moses and Aaron participate in the bringing 5 out of the 7 plagues described in our parsha. Surely, God could have turned the water to blood, brought frogs, lice, boils, and fiery hail without asking Moses and Aaron’s participation. Yet in each of those times, God highlights humanity’s partnership with God by asking Moses and Aaron to do an action that brings the plague.
God brings the plagues to show the Egyptians and the Israelites God’s great power. Yet God does not act alone in our world. We are partners with God to make our world better. Just as Moses and Aaron did, we must stand with God against oppression. We must rise up, bringing God’s strength for those with the least power. When you see another suffering, help. We are commanded not to oppress the orphan, the widow and the immigrant because we were immigrants in the land of Egypt.
God helped us and we are commanded to use our abilities and means to help others. The organization HIAS is doing incredible work fulfilling this commandment. Please check them out at https://www.hias.org.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Metz

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shabbat Torah Teachings