Rabbi Miriam's Blog
This week’s parsha is Vayera which in Hebrew means “and I appeared.” God speaks to Moses and Aaron telling them to go to Pharaoh and demand that the Israelites be set free. They go to Pharaoh but he refuses to free the Israelites from slavery. God then sends a series of plagues upon the Egyptians. Pharaoh promises to free the Israelites if Moses will stop each plague. Moses does so but each time God hardens Pharaoh’s heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go. The parsha ends with the plague of fire and ice which combined to cause a devastating hail upon Egypt. Pharaoh promises to let the Israelites go if Moses ends the hail. Moses and Aaron stop the plague and once again Pharaoh changes his mind.
Ahavat Torah of West Los Angeles
About Rabbi Miriam
Rabbi Miriam E. Hamrell MHL, M.Ed., has served as our religious and spiritual leader at Ahavat Torah Congregation and helped it grow since it was founded in 2003.