The Book of Shemot takes us on a transformative journey from slavery in Egypt to an encounter with God at Har Sinai to the building of the Mishkan. Along the way, we witness the ups and downs, twists and turns, rivalries and epiphanies that contribute to the emergence of Am Yisrael as an independent entity with a newfound identity. At the helm stands, of course, Moshe Rabbeinu, whose own process of maturation develops alongside his people.
In this class with Rabbanit Yafit Clymer we delve into the text and centuries of commentary to follow the parallel trajectories of a nation and its leader. We will explore the major ideas, characters, motifs and patterns in this foundational sefer and learn valuable lessons about the Torah’s notions of leadership, law, society, freedom and, ultimately, how it all ties into our relationship with God
