Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart

Adaapted From Steve Fink


"Who is mighty?"  

Not one who can conquer his enemies; but  "one who can conquer himself."  

--[Pirkei Avot 4:1]

 

איזה הוא גיבור הכובש את יצרו


Many things influence us:  our parents, our race, culture, class, and the  pressures of our environment.


But influence is not control.  Passover is a tutorial in freedom:  in the ability to say “No”   - to conquer instinct by conscience.

 

Pharaoh was born free but became a slave to his own passions.

 

Pharaoh was asked ten times - let my people go.  Each time that he refused, his nation suffered worse and worse plagues. Yet he continued to refuse. Why? Once a person has chosen a path of what is right (or a path of immorality), the path tends to continue, and it becomes harder and harder to change course.


At first we are the most free.  The choice is ours.  We have free-will to accept or refuse the weight of doing what is right.



haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues
Source: R. Shlomo