Shmot
This is a powerful parasha filled with the roots of the Israelite enslavement, the genocide of the male children, Moses defending his people and the ultimate call to Moses to take his rightful place as leader of the people. Inasmuch as there are many villains in the story, there are many more heroes, some known and others nameless. Here are two such heroines, Shifra and Puah. Commanded to murder all the Jewish male children they not only rush to the site if the delivery but save the children claiming they could not make it in time to commit the atrocity. Legend has it that Shifra was the Egyptian name for Yocheved (Moses' mother) and Puah as none other than Miriam, Moses' sister. Whether true or not, they are to be celebrated for their bravery in defying the order of the mighty Pharaoh. We are taught by our wise rabbis to respect government and governmental authorities. Rabbi Hanina, one the greatest sages of the second century, tells us to respect th...