Exodus Conclusion: The Hidden Agenda

Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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The 10 Plagues, 1-5

The 10 Plagues, 6-10

Destruction of Pharaoh

Tefillin and Love

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Published: May 2, 2009
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Visitor Comments: 7

(7) Anonymous, October 18, 2010 1:07 AM

Wonderful Illumination

Thank you, Rabbi Fohrman for bringing out the deeper and clearer meaning behind the 10 plagues. I can see God's intense love for mankind. May God bless you and thank you for the incredible effort you put forth in teaching others God's truth and love.

(6) Anonymous, May 20, 2009 10:51 PM

To Daniela #5

Unfortunately, you are the one who erroneously believe that "There is no blood sacrifice in Judaism." If that is true, then let's get rid of most of the Torah, and ignore all Moses instructions as to how we atone for our transgressions as individuals and as a nation. The reason there is no blood sacrifice is because it was eliminated 2000 years ago when the Romans destroyed the temple and dispersed our race all over the world. In light of this, you are right, but then let's not call it "Judaism" since it is not true Judaism but a counterfeit of true Judaism as it was founded. The passover story was the initiation of the blood sacrifice for Israel to be redeemed out of Egypt and to go possess God's promise to Abraham. The blood sacrifice is what made the difference between the Egyptians and Jews, and that in itself should tell us something about who is "chosen" and who is not. but that's another subject.

(5) Daniela, May 17, 2009 9:42 PM

To Melvin

You have an erroneous understanding of "sacrifice" in Jewish tradition. There is no "blood sacrifice" in Judaism. Go to your nearest book store, buy an Artscroll edition of the Chumash and learn what the commentators say about the passage in question, the meanings of the offerings in the temple and our Day of Atonement. Blood itself does not atone for anything, at least not in Judaism. Christianity on the other hand is a different story.

(4) Melvin, May 13, 2009 12:47 PM

To Daniela Comment 3

"WE needed to see that blood for US to know that the fact that we slaughtered and ate their gods would not put us in danger because our G-d was protecting us from the horrors outside." I honestly don't know what part of a fairy tale that is, but your understanding of the blood is waaay off. The blood was the price that an animal paid, with its life, to atone for the transgressions of that household, otherwise, why would we have a day of atonement for the whole nation of Israel? Do you think that a Holy God would just open that door just because it's you or me? Don't think so, since that would negate ALL of Moses instructions as to the sacrificial rituals to atone for the transgressions of the individual as well as the nation.

(3) Daniela, May 7, 2009 9:10 PM

To Annonymous (comment #2)

If you look at the commentaries, you'll see that the blood was indeed placed on the inside threshold of that door ! G-d didn't need to see blood in order to know who's house to pass over, WE needed to see that blood for US to know that the fact that we slaughtered and ate their gods would not put us in danger because our G-d was protecting us from the horrors outside.

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About the Author

Rabbi David Fohrman

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Rabbi David Fohrman directs the Areivim Curriculum Project, and was an editor and writer for ArtScroll’s Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud. Rabbi Fohrman’s works seek to open layers of meaning of Biblical text, and to help the reader develop a relationship with the texts that make us who we are. Many of his lectures are available on the web at rabbifohrman.com.