The Torah tells us that the Hebrews in Egypt were of the family of Jacob. Joseph, Jacob's son, brought his family to live in Egypt during a time of famine. The Pharaoh of Egypt welcomed them and the Jews prospered and multiplied. But later a new Pharaoh came to the throne who "knew not Joseph," and he enslaved the Hebrews and forced them to do hard labor for the Egyptians. 

Generations passed. The new Pharaoh, afraid of the potential power of the growing Hebrew population, ordered the death of all newborn male Hebrews. Baby Moses was born to a Hebrew mother during this time, who hid him in the rushes of the Nile River to save his life. Moses was discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised Moses as her child, a prince of Egypt. 

As a young man, Moses was so enraged by the sight of an overseer whipping Hebrew slaves that he struck the overseer and killed him. Realizing the gravity of his action, Moses was afraid for his own safety and fled to the desert. In the land of Midian, he married Zipporah, the daughter of Midian priest Jethro, and lived as a shepherd for many years. 

Moses was finally called by God, who appeared before him in a bush that burned but was not consumed, to return to Egypt and free the people of his birth. Moses returned to Egypt and together with his brother Aaron, went before Pharaoh to persuade him to release the Hebrews. When Pharaoh refused to release the slaves, God sent a series of ten plagues to Egypt, bringing hardship to the land, its animals, and its people. With each plague, while it was happening, Pharaoh would give in and agree to let the Hebrews leave. But when each plague ceased, Pharaoh's heart hardened, and he withdrew his willingness to let the people go. 


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story