Dear CBO family,
In this week's portion, Vaera, we see Moses, Pharaoh, and the first seven plagues. God tells Moses that God will admonish Pharaoh and the Egyptians with plagues and punishment. As predicted, "When Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses, their spirits crushed by cruel bondage.” (Ex. 6:9) God tells Moses to tell the Pharaoh and Moses says “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, a man of impeded speech!” (ex 6:12). God tells him to do it anyway, and we all know what happens next.
In the grand scheme of things, I know what the plagues were for, they showed the Egyptians that the Israelite God was powerful and that the Israelites were not to be trifled with. But I also wonder if it wasn't God showing God’s power to Moses and the Israelites. The Israelites were losing faith in their God. They certainly didn’t have faith in Moses and his ability to lead them. They were all slaves, they were in no position to believe in the miracles of their God. So God needed to prove Their power, but more importantly, God needed to show Their support.
Think about it, when you are in an argument, when a peer, a coworker, or a friend comes in and shows their support, doesn't it make you feel better? Is it possible that God needed to also prove to the Israelites that God is as powerful as Moses insisted?
My role as a parent is to defend my children when they need it. I stick up for them, I advocate for them. I do the same for my husband, my family, my friends, for my coworkers. With the New Year approaching, I’m wondering how I can better show up for those around me. What do I have to do to show them that I support, that I love them. I can’t cause plagues, but I can show my unconditional support.
Shabbat Shalom,
Sheryl Gordon
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism