Parashat Va'era

This week’s Parashat Va’era opens one of the most dramatic sections of the Torah: the transition from promise to action in the redemption of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. God re-asserts His covenant with the Patriarchs and sends Moses and Aaron to demand freedom from Pharaoh, only to encounter repeated refusal and escalating confrontation. In response, God unleashes the first seven of the ten plagues, each designed to confront, to educate, and to reveal divine power and justice, culminating in a struggle not just for physical liberation but for moral recognition and cosmic accountability.

From an Orthodox perspective, this narrative highlights timeless themes: bondage and freedom, the role of leadership and moral responsibility, and the confrontation between human arrogance and divine sovereignty. Egypt in Va’era is not merely a foreign empire; it is the archetype of a system that exploits power without accountability, ignores suffering, and resists moral truth. This ancient drama invites us to recognise “Pharaoh-like” forces in our own world — systems and leaders who act with self-interest, disregard for human dignity, and an entrenched resistance to change.

Today, the world watches a different theatre of geopolitical tension in the Middle East and beyond, where questions of power, justice, and human rights once again come to the fore. Tensions between Israel and Iran — and the broader implications for peace and stability across the region — have dominated global headlines in early 2026, with fears of escalation, proxy engagements, and strategic brinkmanship drawing in multiple nations. Theocratic Iran’s posture toward Israel, its support for non-state actors, and its ambitions in the region raise profound questions about state sovereignty, regional order, and the protection of civilian life. These contemporary dynamics, while vastly different in context, echo the ancient struggle between Pharaoh’s entrenched power and God’s demand for justice and liberation.

In Va’era, Pharaoh’s repeated hardening of heart — even in the face of undeniable signs and suffering — is a cautionary tale about the dangers of moral insensitivity and the refusal to acknowledge a power greater than oneself. An Orthodox Jewish reading recognises that history is not random; it is governed by divine justice, and human free will plays a central role. Pharaoh could have chosen to relent at many points, yet his stubbornness deepened the suffering of his own people as well as the oppressed Israelites. This notion resonates today: in international affairs, leaders confront moral thresholds where decisions to escalate or de-escalate, to pursue peace or entrench conflict, have real human consequences. Entities that refuse to acknowledge the basic dignity of all people risk hardening their own hearts in destructive ways.

For the Jewish people, the plagues are not mere historical phenomena but become metaphors for Mitzrayim — narrow places of constraint where freedom is yet unrealised. The plagues serve both as divine declarations of power and as moral awakenings, intended to break the shackles of oppression and open the path toward ethical and spiritual growth. In the modern context, this calls upon us as Jews — and as citizens of the world — to confront systems of injustice, to advocate for the vulnerable, and to seek peace grounded in accountability, truth, and respect for human dignity.

Furthermore, Va’era teaches that liberation is not instantaneous; it unfolds through struggle, patience, and persistent faith. Just as the Israelites’ redemption required not only plagues but also moral transformation and collective resolve, so too must contemporary society strive for solutions that transcend short-term power plays. In the Middle East and across the globe, peace will not be achieved merely through force or deterrence, but through honest engagement with the humanity of others and a commitment to lasting justice — a principle deeply rooted in Torah values.

In this light, the narrative of Va’era — God’s covenant, the confrontation with Pharaoh, and the unfolding redemption — offers an enduring lens through which we can interpret current world events. It challenges us to see beyond immediate political dynamics, to recognise deeper moral patterns, and to act not out of fear, but with a sense of purpose anchored in divine justice and human dignity.

Shabbat Shalom

Maddie Myriam Schumann