In a Nutshell
Pesach Story in a Nutshell
Joseph is sold by his brothers and ends up in a jail in Egypt. Because he has developed a reputation as a dream interpreter, when Pharaoh has a troubling dream , Joseph correctly interprets it and becomes the Grand Vizier of Egypt who saves the country from famine. The Jews, suffering from the famine, move to Egypt where they thrive.
But, alas, the good Pharaoh dies and the new Bad Pharaoh is convinced by early anti- Semites that if he doesn’t get rid of the Jews, they will cause trouble. The Jews are enslaved for many years and finally the new Pharaoh orders all Jewish male babies killed. Moses is saved when his mother puts him in a basket and floats it down the Nile where he is discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter, and grows up in the palace. As an adult, he learns he is a Jew and, coming upon an Egyptian beating a Jewish slave, he kills the Egyptian and must flee for his life.
After being in God’s presence at the burning bush, he returns to Egypt where becomes the leader of the enslaved Jews. At God’s direction, Moses demands of Pharaoh to “let my people go.” Each time, Pharaoh refuses and a different plague is visited upon the Egyptians. The final plague, the smiting of the first born finally does the trick and Pharaoh relents. The Jews hurriedly leave Egypt but Pharaoh reneges and send his troops to bring the slaves back. Pinned against the Red Sea, Moses splits the waters and the Jews pass through unscathed while the pursuing Egyptian soldiers drown as their pursuit takes them to the middle of the Sea just as the waters come back together. The Jews wander in the desert for 40 years.
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