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This week's Torah Portion: 

15 BO - GO - EXODUS 10:1-13:16

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Highlights from my Torah commentary: Ex 10:1-13:16 "Bo"


וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בֹּא אֶל־פַּרְעֹה כִּֽי־אֲנִי הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת־לִבֹּו וְאֶת־לֵב עֲבָדָיו לְמַעַן שִׁתִי אֹתֹתַי אֵלֶּה בְּקִרְבֹּֽו

vayomer adonai el-moshe bo el-par'oh ki-ani hich'bad'ti eht-libo v'eht-leyv avadayv l'ma'an sheetee OTOTAI EYLEH B'KIRBO.

"ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have made him and his servants hardhearted, so that I can demonstrate these signs of mine among them,"


The name of this week’s portion is called “Bo,” meaning, “Go.” This was the command of HaShem as Moshe made his way into the audience of the Pharaoh once again. However, by the context of the portion, we could just as well apply the title to the verbal imperative possibly given to Moshe at the mouth of the king of Egypt as he reached his final amount of “patience” with this fellow named Moshe. In the latter part of chapter 10, as well as verse 8 of chapter 11, we see the confrontations of these two men drawing to a close. I can almost imagine Pharaoh commanding Moshe, “Go! Get out! You and all that belong to you! Go into the desert and serve your invisible God! Just let me and my people be! You’ve ruined Egypt, and if I ever see your face again, it will be you who is ruined!” Later on, as you read this parashah, you shall see that this supposition is not too far from the truth.
— Parashat Bo