blogs/rabbi-huberman

Attached is a version of the e-Sermon Rabbi Huberman wrote this week for his rabbinical seminary, the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR).

Missing Voices in the Passover Story

The account of the enslavement of Jewish people in Egypt is perhaps one of the most powerful stories within the entire Torah.

It is the stuff of heroes and villains, slavery and liberation.

It has captured the imagination of those across many faiths and cultural backgrounds, and continues to inspire Passover �" perhaps the most observed holiday across all of Judaism.

Yet, there are so many gaps and unanswered questions.

Indeed, while this week's Torah reading, Va'era (“And God appeared”) engages us in a thrilling narrative of miracles and plagues, there is perhaps one central perspective which is sorely lacking:

“Where are the voices of the Israelites and Egyptians �" those who were the most affected by this dramatic story of slavery and human suffering?”

Isn't it interesting that the entire Passover story is told almost exclusively through three main characters: Moses, Aaron and Pharaoh? Where are the thoughts and feelings of the Israelites and Egyptians?

God tells us that the cries of the Israelites extended to the heavens. “The cry of the Israelites has reached me.” (Exodus 3:9) Yet, the direct voice of the Jewish slave is absent. In addition, it is implied that all Egyptians were unified their oppression of the Jewish people.

But this is dangerous assumption. It is fair to say that all Jews are the same �" or that throughout history there were none among our enemies who disapproved of their leaders' policies?

Yet one of the blessings of Torah is its ability to evolve. And