On Passover, we commemorate the exodus from Egyptian slavery. The following is a brief summary:

Jacob’s family came to Egypt to escape a famine in Canaan. Joseph, Jacob’s son who had become the Viceroy to Pharaoh and had rescued all of Egypt from the famine, arranged to have his family settle in the land of Goshen, apart from the Egyptians.

After Joseph’s death, his contributions to Egyptian society were forgotten, and the new Pharaoh, feeling threatened by the demographic success of the Israelites, enslaved them with cruel and bitter labor.

According to the Midrash, Pharaoh was alerted to a prophecy that the Israelites would be led to freedom by a boy yet to be born, so he ordered all newborn Jewish boys cast into the Nile. Yocheved set her newborn son (Moses) adrift in the Nile in a basket to escape the decree, where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him.

Years later, Moses came upon an Egyptian beating an Israelite. Outraged, Moses slew the Egyptian and then fled Egypt, fearing that his action had been discovered. He took refuge in the land of Midian with Jethro, and married Jethro’s daughter, Tzipporah. While shepherding Jethro’s sheep, Moses came upon a burning bush that was not being consumed by the fire and from which he heard God’s voice instructing him to go back to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Moses, together with his older brother, Aaron, went to Pharaoh and demanded the release of the Israelites. Pharaoh repeatedly said no–nine times. Each time he said no, another plague (blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts and darkness) struck Egypt. Finally, God struck all the Egyptian first-born sons dead. After this tenth and final plague, Pharaoh finally said “yes,” and the Jews left Egypt, matzah in hand.

Pharaoh changed his mind and chased the Israelites, who were eventually trapped between the Egyptian army and the Sea of Reeds. But the sea miraculously split, and the Israelites crossed safely, while the Egyptians drowned in the returning waters. According to the Midrash, only Pharaoh survived.

The Israelites then continued their journey to Mount Sinai, where they received the Torah.

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