God reiterates to Moses that the binding promise He made to the Patriarchs, to bring their descendants from servitude to freedom, and ultimately to dominion in Canaan, would be fulfilled. But an unrelenting, unmoved Pharaoh, who imposes increased hardships on the Israelites, makes them grow more despondent. Pharaoh is unimpressed by Aaron's staff being transformed into a serpent - because the Egyptian magicians can do the same thing - even when it swallows the Egyptian magicians' rods.
So God begins to inflict plague after plague upon Egypt, with no lasting effect upon Pharaoh. Occasionally Pharaoh concedes, but once a plague abates, Pharaoh reverts to his hard-hearted posture. This pattern repeats itself through the seven plagues enumerated in our sidra:
blood, frogs, lice, swarming insects, cattle plague, boils and hail.
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Last Shabbat
Thanks to all who came out, despite the cold for all 3 services!
This Shabbat - and for the next few weeks:
our services will be in the Chapel. The old boiler just can't heat that large space properly. We might be a bit squished, but just think of it as cozy!
Tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.
Tomorrow afternoon:
Minha/ Seudah Shlishit/ Ma'ariv & Havdalah
beginning at 4:15 p.m.
During the Seudah Shlishit will be reading Danny Gordis' newest piece on inter-sectionality and the attempt to try and connect #MeToo to support for Palestinian victimization
Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
will be our last minyan in Murray and Margalit Feit's home
Our regular minyanim resume in the Chapel on Sunday evening at 7:45 p.m.
Monday morning at 9:00 a.m.
