Pharaoh and Moses Go To A Conflict Counselor

by Dave Cowen

Conflict Counselor
So what brings you two in today?

Pharaoh
Honestly, things have been pretty rough.

Conflict Counselor
Moses, would you say that’s true?

Moses
I’d say it’s been rough but it doesn’t have to be anymore.

Pharaoh
I just don’t understand, you really don’t want to be my slaves anymore?

Moses
No, we don’t.

Conflict Counselor
Pharaoh, what does it feel like to hear Moses say he and his people don’t want to be your slaves anymore?

Pharaoh
You know, it really hurts. I feel like we’ve done some beautiful things together. I mean, we couldn’t have built these pyramids if you weren’t our slaves. And those pyramids wouldn’t be a wonder of the world for years to come if it wasn’t for what we built together.

Moses
But now it’s time for us to go.

Pharaoh
But I think there’s so much more we could still be and do together. We could keep building wonders of the world. We could build a Great Wall or a Hanging Gardens. We could build a Great Library. There’s a site in Alexandria that I think would be perfect for a Great Library.

Moses
But me and my people don’t want to do those things. We want to go to our homeland of Israel

Pharaoh
Ugh. This homeland. Always with this homeland. You think life’s going to be so much better in this magical homeland? Well, I doubt it.

Moses
It’s got to be better than this.

Conflict Counselor
Moses, what happens for you when Pharaoh disregards your wish to go to Israel?

Moses
It’s more what happens to him. G-d’s going to keep plaguing him and his people.

Pharaoh
It’s the worst. First the water turned to blood. Then there were frogs and locusts. And so many other things. So many things.

Moses
And yet you keep resisting what He’s telling you, which is that our relationship is over.

Conflict Counselor
Why do you keep resisting, Pharaoh?

Pharaoh
My heart, it just feels hardened.

Conflict Counselor
Why do you think that is?

Pharaoh
Well, I think I saw Moses’s relatives Jacob and Joseph getting along so well with my Dad, the previous Pharaoh, all those years, and honestly, I feel jealous. Like, why can’t I have that with the Jews, too?

Conflict Counselor
And yet, you have the exact opposite.

Pharaoh
It’s true.

Conflict Counselor
Sometimes the best way to love someone is to let them go, Pharaoh.

Moses
This is your last chance. You saw what G-d just did to the first born.

Conflict Counselor
So what will you do, Pharaoh, will you let Moses and his people go?

Pharaoh
OK, Fine, fine, whatever, fine, OK, sure.

Conflict Counselor
That didn’t sound very sure.

Pharaoh
I’m sure. I am. I’m sure. Just go. Just go.

Conflict Counselor

And you won’t change your mind?

Pharaoh
As of this moment. As of this moment, I can promise I won’t change my mind.

Conflict Counselor
Moses, what would happen if Pharaoh changes his mind again?

Moses
I don’t know. But I don’t think he wants to find out.

Pharaoh
So this concludes our counseling?

Conflict Counselor
I guess it does. If you think this is a real sea change for you, Pharaoh. Do you agree, Pharaoh, that this a real sea change for you?

Pharaoh
I believe it is.

Conflict Counselor
Do you agree, Moses?

Moses
We’ll see what happens to the sea.


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues
Source: Original