Shabbat Shalom. This week’s parasha continues where we left off last week, finishing the last three plagues: locusts, darkness, and death of the first born. We learn about the sacrifice of a lamb to paint on the doorposts of the homes of the Israelites, so that the angel of death will know to pass over their houses. Finally, we read of how Pharoah finally agreed to release the Israelites, forcing them to flee in such a rush that their bread had no time to rise, leaving them with matzah. Now, I know you’re all thinking, “I don’t want to even think about Pesach right now, we just had Rosh Hashanah!”, but this parasha provides us with so many of the mitzvot we abide by on a daily basis. In fact, this parasha not only establishes a calendar, but also instructs us to wear tefillin and many other commandments.
- Sarah Singer, Natick USY Religion Education VP
