Beshalach

This week's Torah reading brings the Israelites out of Egypt, finally, and through Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds.  After that miraculous event, you would have thought everyone would have been grateful to God for at least a while.  But according to the very next chapter, chapter 16 of Exodus, that's not what happened:

 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; 3 and the children of Israel said to them: 'I wish we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, ...where we at least had enough bread to eat; Instead you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole people with hunger.' 

What were the people complaining about?
Why do you think they were complaining?
Do you think they had a good reason to complain?
What would you have said to them if you were Moses?

Read the rest of the chapter 16  to find out what happened.

Are you satisfied with the outcome?
Explain what you would have done if you had been there.

Imagine you were there and had a Facebook page.  Post an update to your status to tell everyone what has happened to you.

Bo

You all know the story - we tell it every year at our Passover seder.   What is your favorite part of the story?  What do you think would have been your favorite part if you were in the story?

Today there are Jews who live in countries where there is a lot of anti-Jewish activity.  Jews living there may feel they have to hide the fact that they are Jewish.  Some of the Jews in these countries choose to leave, while other decide to stay.  It may seem like a simple choice to you, but think about the fact that leaving means going somewhere you don't know anyone, have to go to a new school with no friends, might never see your old home and friends again .  Not so simple after all.

• Some commentators believe that only a small percentage of the Hebrews living in Egypt left during the Exodus. 
• Would you have been part of the group that left? 
• Or would you have stayed in Egypt? 

Explain your answer.