Prepared By Ms. Hadassah Jacobs Shevat 5785

Proofread by Rav Baruch Rubanowitz

Parshas Bo is often associated with the final plagues, the Exodus from Egypt, and the institution of Pesach. However, beneath the familiar narratives lie deep insights that redefine our understanding of time, free will, and the essence of redemption. Let’s explore three remarkable perspectives that are rarely discussed but hold transformative lessons for our lives today.

1. The Power to Shape Time: Kiddush HaChodesh

One of the first commandments given to the Jewish people as a nation is the sanctification of the new moon (Kiddush HaChodesh). The Torah states:

“This month shall be for you the beginning of months” (Shemos 12:2).

At first glance, this seems like a straightforward declaration, but the phrase “for you” (לָכֶם) is seemingly unnecessary—why not simply say, “This month is the first of months”? The Midrash and commentators reveal a profound insight: with this commandment, Hashem hands over the control of time to Israel.

In Egypt, the Israelites were slaves, bound to Paraoh’s schedule, dictated by external forces. But with this mitzvoh, Hashem transforms their relationship to time from passive to active mastery. The Jewish people are now entrusted with sanctifying time itself, determining the months, and thereby shaping the cycle of divine service and holidays. This is revolutionary—unlike nature, which runs on a fixed cycle, Jewish time is flexible, human-dependent, and spiritually dynamic. Even more astonishing, the Talmud (Rosh Hashonoh 25a) states that Hashem aligns Himself with the human-determined calendar, even if the Sanhedrin were to make an error! This underscores the unique partnership between the Creator and Israel—where divine reality itself is adjusted in accordance with the Jewish people’s role in sanctifying time. The Exodus wasn’t just freedom from Egypt—it was freedom from passivity, ushering in an era where human agency in holiness became a fundamental principle of Judaism.

2. Paraoh’s Hardened Heart: A Supernatural Resilience or a Self-Inflicted Fall?

Another enigmatic phrase in Parshas Bo is Hashem’s declaration: “Ki ani hichbadeti es libo”—“For I have hardened Paraoh’s heart” (Shemos 10:1).

Many commentators discuss the ethical implications of this verse—how could Paraoh be held accountable if his free will was removed? One lesser-known perspective, brought down by the Abarbanel, is that Paraoh’s heart was not so much hardened in the sense of being manipulated, but rather, he was granted supernatural resilience to withstand the plagues without breaking—so that he could persist in his own arrogance. This idea by the Spanish-Portuguese scholar was also developed during the same period in Bolognia, Italy by Rav Ovadia Seforno, each writing similar ideas in their personal manuscripts.

This means that Paraoh’s downfall was not forced upon him; rather, Hashem enabled him to fully manifest the depths of his own tyranny. He was given the chance to change, again and again, but instead, he used his strength to double down on his oppression. Were it not for Hashem’s intervention, the suffering he endured would have forced him to comply without freewill to choose his path. This reframes the story—not as Hashem “controlling” Paraoh, but as Paraoh being given every opportunity to choose differently, only to cement his own legacy as the ultimate symbol of blind, destructive stubbornness. It is a powerful warning: Hashem does give us many opportunities to choose, often more than we realize. Many of us should be feeling more accountable for who we are rather than attributing it to events and circumstances beyond our control.

3. Paraoh’s Last-Ditch Effort: Divide the Family, Divide the Faith

One overlooked insight lies in Paraohs’ desperate negotiation attempt: “Go now, the men among you, and serve Hashem, for that is what you are asking” (Shemos 10:11).

Pharaoh was willing to concede—on his terms. He would allow the men to worship Hashem, but the women and children had to stay behind. Why this strange condition? The answer reveals a profound truth about spiritual continuity: Paraoh understood that if he kept the families divided in spiritual attachment to Hashem, the Exodus would be hollow. A nation without its next generation on the same spiritual level as the previous is a religion without a future.

Moshe’s response was clear and unwavering: “With our young and our old we will go” (Shemos 10:9).

This is the essence of Jewish survival—true redemption is not just about physical freedom but about passing down faith, Torah, and tradition to the next generation. Oppressive regimes throughout history have tried to sever the transmission of faith and identity by targeting education and family structure. Paraoh’s tactic mirrors modern cultural and ideological battles, where values are tested across generations. The deeper takeaway from Bo is that redemption isn’t just an event—it’s a responsibility. Ensuring that faith, wisdom, and connection to Hashem are not just experienced in the present but carried forward by our children is the ultimate act of liberation, ensuring that we are never enslaved—physically or spiritually—again.

Final Thoughts: Bo’s Timeless Lessons

Parshas Bo is not just a historical account of plagues and miracles; it is a roadmap for spiritual resilience and national identity.

•  The sanctification of the moon teaches us that we are not bound by fate—we have the power to shape time and infuse it with holiness.
•  Paraoh’s hardened heart warns us of the dangers of resisting truth, even when given every opportunity to change.
•  The battle over who leaves Egypt—men alone or families together—reminds us that redemption is only complete when the next generation carries the torch forward.

These insights challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are we taking an active role in shaping time for holiness? Are we open to truth, or do we allow our hearts to harden? Are we ensuring that our faith is transmitted to the next generation?

Parshas Bo reminds us that freedom is not just about leaving Egypt—it is about stepping into the responsibility of our destiny.