Abraham, the first Jew, left his family of idol worshippers to believe in God who promised his and his wife Sarah’s descendants would be great people. God renewed this promise to their son Isaac and his wife Rebecca, and their son Jacob and his wives Rachel and Leah. God led Abraham and Sarah across the lands to the land of Israel, then called Canaan but warned them that they would be enslaved for hundreds of years. This prophecy came true when Joseph, Jacob and Rachel’s son, came to Egypt after being sold by his brothers. Because of his ability of interpret dreams he rose to power as advisor to Pharaoh. Joseph advised Pharaoh to build storehouses and fill them with grain.

Years of famine struck and the Egyptians still had food. When Joseph’s brothers came in search of food, he invited them to settle in a land called Goshen. This family, known as the Israelites multiplied but soon a new Pharaoh came and didn’t remember Joseph’s heroic actions. He feared the Israelites and their power so he enslaved them. He forced them to do hard labor, building cities and statues made from clay and straw bricks. He also decreed that every baby boy would be drowned in the Nile River.

Two midwives, Shifra and Puah feared God and did not do what Pharaoh bid, instead letting the babies live. One couple, Amram and Yocheved hid their baby for three months but soon his cries became too loud. Yocheved placed him in a basket on the river and her daughter Miriam watched to see what would happen to her brother. The Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the basket and out of pity decided to keep him, naming him Moshe, or Moses, meaning ‘drawn from water’. Miriam went to the princess and asked if she was in need of a nurse, Yocheved was able to watch over and take care of her own son while teaching him about his heritage.

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace but was upset with the suffering of his people. After he saw an Egyptian beating one of the Israelite slaves he could not contain his anger and killed the Egyptian. Knowing his life would be in danger, he fled to Midian where he became a shepard. One day while herding sheep, Moses saw a bush that was on fire and from the bush he heard the voice of God. God said, “I am the God of your ancestors. I have seen the suffering of the Israelites and have heard their cries. I am ready to take them out of Egypt and bring them to a new land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Moses took the message from God and went back to the Israelites. When Moses asked Pharaoh to free his people he refused so God brought ten plagues on the Egyptians. Each plague frightened Pharaoh, and he promised to let the Israelites go but when the plagues stopped he took back his promise. It was only after the last plague, the death of the first born, did he let the Israelites go.


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story