In this week's parasha, פרשת בשלח, many important things happen. Bnei Yisrael finally leave Egypt. They start heading into the desert toward the ים סוף. After three days, when Pharaoh realizes that the Jews will not return to Egypt he chases after them with his army. That night the עמוד הענן went behind Bnei Yisrael to protect them from the Egyptians' encampment...

This week we read of how Hashem split the sea and brought our ancestors across the dry land, where they thanked Him by singing Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. One of the first lines of the song is Zeh Kehli V'Anvehu / This is my God and I will beautify Him / Elokhei Avi V'Aromemenhu / my father's God and I will elevate Him.

In this week's Parasha, Parashat Bo, Bnei Yisrael receive their first mitzvah as a nation from Hashem - the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, marking the beginning of the new month based on the moon cycle. This seems very strange! Why, out of all of the 613 mitzvot, is Rosh Chodesh chosen to be the first mitzvah?

The following is inspired by a dvar Torah I heard at my Shabbat table from Rabbi Aaron Potek. This week we enter the third week of the epic battle between Pharaoh and Moshe. Pharaoh and Moshe represent two very different types of people. Pharaoh is focused on himself and thinks he is perfect. Who is this 'God' you are talking about? I don't know him. I'm god. Moshe is the opposite...