The name of the Parshah, "Va’era," means "and I appeared" and it is found in Exodus 6:3.
G‑d reveals Himself to
Moses. Employing the
“four expressions of redemption,” take out the Children of Israel from Egypt, deliver them from their enslavement, redeem them, and acquire them as
His own chosen people at
“Mount Sinai”; He will then bring them to the
land He promised to the Patriarchs as their eternal heritage.
Moses and
Aaron repeatedly
come before Pharaoh to demand in the name of G‑d, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness.” Pharaoh repeatedly refuses.
Aaron’s staff turns into a snake and swallows the magic sticks of the Egyptian sorcerers. G‑d then sends a series of
plagues upon the Egyptians.
The waters of the Nile
turn to blood; swarms of
frogs overrun the land;
lice infest all men and beasts. Hordes of
wild animals invade the cities; a
pestilence kills the domestic animals; painful
boils afflict the Egyptians. For the seventh plague,
fire and ice combine to descend from the skies as a
devastating hail. Still, “
the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he would not let the children of Israel go, as G‑d had said to Moses.”
Learn:
Va’era in Depth
Browse:
Va’era Parshah Columnists
Prep:
Devar Torah Q&A for Va’era
Read:
Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play:
Va’era Parshah Quiz
