Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik
Congregacion Kol Shearith Israel
The change in dynasty in Egypt brought as a foreseeable consequence the rearrangement of political alliances. The Israelites, privileged by the overthrown regime became a threat to the future of the nation. Hence Pharaoh’s decision to submit them to forced labor first, and then to attempt to decimate them by killing baby boys at birth.
However, this attempt failed thanks to two nearly anonymous heroines (I say nearly because the Torah gives us their names –Shiphrah and Puah- but nothing more about them) that through committed actions of civil disobedience –some of the oldest on record- refused to abide Pharaoh’s orders.