Pharoah, king of Egypt, issued a murderous directive to the midwives of the Hebrews, one of whom was named Shifrah and the other Puah, saying, "When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the birthing stool; if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live." The midwives, revering God, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, letting the boys live?" The midwives said to Pharoah, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women: they are vigorous. Before the midwife can come to them, they have given birth." God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and increased greatly. [...] Then Pharoah charged all his people, saying, "Every boy that is born you shall throw into the Nile, but let every girl live." (Exodus 1:15-22)

Every generation has heroes who are unafraid to refuse criminal orders.

Shifrah and Puah, two midwives, had the courage to stand up to Pharoah, a man who considered himself a god and beyond all reproach.

The Torah recorded the names of Shifrah and Puah, may they be remembered for blessings.

But the names of that cruel Pharoah and his officials have been obscured and forgotten.

May there come a time when we cannot remember the names of those who brought evil and suffering.

From midwives who stood up to Pharaoh, to a simple shepherd who found inspiration in the wilderness to save his people, the Torah teaches us that every human has the capacity to perform acts of greatness.

-- Rabbi Rheins and Rabbi Rheins,  Celebrating Freedom: The New Haggadah


haggadah Section: Maggid - Beginning