Pour the second glass of wine/grape juice/drink of choice.

The Haggadah focuses on the all-powerful, supernatural God who hears the Israelites’ cries, sends the plagues, and splits the sea. But that is not an accurate reflection of the biblical narrative, which also features a number of human characters who choose, at great risk, to protect the values of Egypt and identify with the stranger:

- the midwives [Shifra and Puah], who refuse to follow Pharoah’s order to drown all newborn Israelite boys in the Nile

- Moses’ mother, Yokheved, who follows the letter of Pharaoh’s order but subeverts its purpose by placing Moses in a protective basket that keeps him from drowning

- Pharaoh’s daughter, Batya, who knows full well that Moses is an Israelite and has the audacity to rescue him and raise him in her father’s household, defying his law right under his nose.

- Miriam, who has the gumption to approach this Egyptian princess and convince her to hire Moses’ own mother as a wet nurse

- Moses, who was raised in Egyptian royalty, yet risks his position of privilege to defend an Israelite slave 

It wasn’t just God’s actions that led to the Israelites’ liberation, but the courageous acts of these human characters as well. The Torah repeatedly instructs us to tell our children about the Exodus, to embed this story firmly at the core of their Jewish identity, teaching them that our ancient plight as strangers and slaves must still form the basis of our moral orientation today. But I think we also need to remind our children that even in conditions of crushing oppression, some of the Israelites resisted, and there were righteous people who helped them. That too is our story. That too is part of who we are and who we must aspire to be.


haggadah Section: Maggid - Beginning
Source: Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz