Parshat Vaera

Esti L - December 19, 2025

Shalom alechem. I'm Esti Lurie. Some of you may know me, and some of you may not.

A bit over a year ago, I put out the call on the BSK Listserv to start a new minyan in Bushwick and/or Ridgewood. Why? Because my soul needed nourishment and the schlep to Crown Heights sucks!

Since our first Shabbat, we have grown to be, dare I say, one of NYC's hottest alt-Jewish offerings. We are proudly oriented towards Liberation and away from Zionism. Contemporary Judaism is cracking, fracturing. We demand that no genocide, no apartheid, no occupation be carried out in our name.

And although most of us here are not Israel, they are Jewish war criminals who are celebrating Shabbat and tomorrow will hear the words of this week's parsha - Vaera; "And I appeared."

This parsha is 3 fold.

First, G-d hears the suffering of the Hebrew slaves, and instructs Moshe to reveal to them that G-d has heard, and will free them "Bzroa Ntuyah uBsfatayim gdolim" - "with scattered seeds and powerful judgements." (Scattered seeds is usually translated as "an outstretched arm.") But they could not yet hear, because they labored under such harsh conditions. So, G-d instructs Moshe to ask Pharaoh to let them go. But Moshe replies that his speech impediment will get in the way.

Second, we learn of the ancestry of Moshe. His father was Amram (who lived to 137), grandfather was Kohat (133) and great grandfather Levi (137). 137 is a prime number, while 133 sits between 131 and 137. Also, Moshe has a cousin named Zichri and one named Sitri, which mean "my memory" and "my secret" respectively.

Third, back to the story. G-d says that Moshe will be "Elohim to Pharaoh", and his brother Aaron his prophet. Pharaoh famously says no to their request. No magic nor miracle can get Pharaoh to change his mind. He comes close a couple times, but always changes his mind. Through Moshe and Aaron, G-d enacts the first seven plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice, Insects, Killing of Livestock, Boils, and Fiery Hail.

So what are we to learn? The lesson is at least two-fold.

First, for the oppressed, use all tools at your disposal to break free. Poison the wells. Gum up the works. Let loose swarms of bugs. Try everything, for our G-d, the G-d of Oneness, is on your side.

Second, for the oppressor: your time is limited. Freedom is inevitable. If you keep slaves, they will free themselves. If they ask nicely, and you say no, expect the worst. Human beings do not tolerate slavery forever, because freedom is the fundamental mode of life. And, the one true G-d always sides with the oppressed.

Now, why are we left hanging after plague seven? Only next week do we read of the exodus. This is because the fight for freedom is a tale as old as time. We are still living in the same basic economic structure as the Hebrews in Egypt. Not only does the story resonate, we are commanded to remember as if we too were slaves. Because we effectively are. Of course, it is more complicated, but still -- there exist the basic power structures in our time that continually uphold and recreate oppression. But we know that the long arc of history bends towards justice. Our charge in life is not to wait for a miracle. Those of us who can, must bend the arc.

We are at TBRS because we believe that change will come only if we make it so. We build the world to come from wherever we are, using whatever tools available. And we must trust that, even if she may not exist, G-d is on our side.

Shabbat shalom.