Tonight's Friday Afternoon/Evening Services will take place at 4:00 pm.
Our BA offices will be closed today as it is a Federal Legal Holiday.
This Week's Torah Portion is
Vaera
D'var Torah From Rabbi Neal Rose
The first section of the Book of Shemot (Exodus) tells the tale of the ten plagues. It starts with the story of the waters of the Nile being turned to blood and it ends with the death of the firstborn (Egyptian children and animals).
Some scholars have tried to explain these events along naturalistic lines. For example the first plague, blood , was thought to occur when red clay sweept down to the Nile from the Ethiopian Highlands. The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, was believed to reflect a sudden rise in infant mortality. Each plague was thought to mirror the power of a particular Egyptian deity. By the time of the last plague, a whole host of Egyptian divine beings had met their end at the hand of Israel’s God. The fact that we speak of the “Ten plagues” is, itself, significant since the number ten represents a fullness, a large quantity, and thus a total demise of the divine hierarchy
Geb, the Egyptian god of the earth, ruled over the dust of the earth. So when the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to "stretch out the rod and smite the dust of the earth” what they had done, in fact, was vanquish the god Geb.
The goddess Hathor, depicted with the head of cow, proves to be powerless in the face the disease that the hand of Israel's God inflicts upon the cattle and all live stock. Hathor is powerless to prevent the economic collapse that this plague brings to the people of Egypt
Isis, Egyptian goddess of medicine and peace, cannot protect the local populace from the boils and sores that are the product of the sixth plague. Seth, the Egyptian god of storms and disorder, is helpless when swarms of locust devour whatever is left of the crops. Neither can Seth remedy the hunger brought about in the wake of these plagues.
The ultimate power in ancient Egypt was believed to be the Pharaoh himself. He was worshiped as the greatest of the Egyptian gods. It was believed he was the son of Ra, born in human form. Yet for all of his supposed power, he was unable to protect his own firstborn child, and those of his people. To make things worse, the final plague even reaches firstborn beasts, and the son of Ra (Pharaoh) is vanquished by the God of the slave people.
Why was this war against Egyptian deities necessary? The most obvious answer is that Pharaoh needed to be convinced to free the Israelite slaves. However, I believe that there was a second and equally important goal in this war against the gods of Egypt. Namely, I understand this war as being waged in order to convince the Israelite slaves that not only were their slave masters powerless , but that the deities of Egypt were likewise impotent.
As often happens when people are victimized over long periods of time, they become convinced that their oppressors are stronger and mightier then they are.This is one of the manifestations of post traumatic stress disorder; a trauma that many victims continue to experience suffer long after they have been released from their captivity. That is why I believe that the death of the Egyptian gods and goddesses was an import step in rehabilitating a whole generation of oppressed Israelites.
While naturalistic explanations have their place, my focus is on the healing and restoration of the people Israel, which is in keeping with the storyline in the first section of the Book of Exodus.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Neal Rose neal@bnaiamoona.com
314-576-9990 x110
Shabbat Service Schedule & Candle Lighting Times
Shabbat Candlelighting:
Friday, December 31 at 4:32 pm
Havdallah, Saturday, January 1 at 5:21 pm
Friday, December 31 Friday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Main Sanctuary: 4:00 pm In-Person, Livestream, FB Live,Kosher Zoom (Password: Shabbat)
Saturday, January 1 Tefillah with Cantor Sharon Nathanson, Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham, and Eitan Kantor in the Main Sanctuary: 9:00 am
As we close out 2021 and enter into 2022, we want to thank you for being part of our Kehillah Kedoshah, our Holy community. May the (secular) new year bring us good health and happiness!
Weekday Minyan Information Join us In-Person or on Zoom, BA Livestream or Facebook Live
Morning and Evening Minyan will take place in-person in the Main Sanctuary. Additionally, we will continue to offer virtual options on Zoom, Facebook Live and our BA Livestream Page.
Regular Morning Minyanim Sunday Morning Minyan: 9:00 am Monday - Friday Morning Minyan: 7:00 am In-Person, Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201 Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201 This Zoom link is for all morning Minyan Services
Regular Evening Minyanim
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan: 6:15 pm via Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/97924715014 Meeting ID: 979 2471 5014 This Zoom link is for all evening Minyan Services
