When looking at this week’s Parsha, Parshat Bo, it is hard not to see comparisons between what happened in Egypt regarding the ten plagues and what has happened in Israel and Gaza since October 7. The hostages can be compared to the Israelite slaves, and the Palistinians to the Egyptians. In Gaza, like Egypt in the Exodus story, there were innocent civilians who were killed in order to free the hostages. Hamas chose to start a war and to use their civilians as human shields just as Pharaoh allowed his people to suffer through the ten plagues. The big difference, however, is that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh didn’t always have a choice when it came to refusing to free the Israelites.
Every year, when we read this portion, and again when we read the story on Passover, I always feel conflicted about the final plague. I have never been able to understand how we can celebrate our freedom when it came at the expense of the innocent Egyptians, some of them children. Since October 7, I have, as I’m sure have many others, felt like my heart has been hardened. Of course, I am sad over the number of innocent people that have been killed in Gaza, but having to defend Israel’s right to exist to people who wrongly claim that Israel is purposefully committing genocide, has made me feel more anger than compassion. After October 7, I wanted Israel to go into Gaza and kill every member of Hamas that they could find. This year, I see Parshat Bo through a different lens. This year, my heart is just a little harder.
—Cantorial Intern Andrew Paskil