Family Parshah
Bo Q & A

"And he [Pharaoh] said to them, 'Go and serve G-d your G-d; which ones are going?' Moses said, 'With our young and with our old shall we go.' " (10:8-9)

Question: Moses's request to Pharaoh was very explicit: "Let my people go!" Why now, after having endured seven plagues, did Pharaoh ask, "Which ones are going?"

Answer: Alternatively, Pharaoh, slowly but surely, began to realize that fighting Moses was a lost cause. Instead of being stubborn and refusing to let the Jewish people go, he decided to use reverse psychology. Pharaoh said to Moses, "I am your friend who would not want to see you as an outcast or a failure. Many years have passed since you left Egypt. I know the people better than you do. I do not doubt your sincerity in wanting to take them to serve G-d, but I urge you stop your campaign because, 'mi vami haholchim' — which ones are going?! None of these people are interested in leaving Egypt to go seek a new way of life."

Moses smiled and replied, "You are greatly mistaken. Just open the doors and give them freedom, and I assure you that young and old, men and women will eagerly run to serve G-d."

"And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aharon in haste and said, 'I have sinned against G-d and against you.' " (10:16)

Question: Why did Pharaoh then confess that he also sinned against Moses and Aharon, in contrast to his confession after the plague of hail, "I have sinned this time; G-d is righteous" (9:27)?

Moses told Pharaoh to release the Jews in order for them to worship G-d. Pharaoh inquired, "Which ones are going?" Moses responded, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters." Pharaoh became enraged and chased them out, saying, "Not so, let the men go now, for this you are seeking." One may question, why was it necessary for Pharaoh to add the words, "for this you are seeking"?

Answer: Pharaoh accused Moses and Aharon of unjustly seeking to take the children on a pilgrimage to serve G-d: "Undoubtedly, your G-d only wants the adults. However, this request for the children to participate — is something which you want, and which G-d never asked for."

When Pharaoh saw that regardless of his consent to send the males he was plagued with locusts, he realized that G-d was not satisfied, because He wanted the women's and children's participation. Therefore, he quickly called Moses and Aharon and told them, "Now I have not only sinned against G-d, but also against you, because I accused you falsely."

"Do not eat of it partially raw, or cooked in water, only roasted over fire." (12:9)

Question: The meat of the sacrifices may be eaten by Kohens in whatever manner suits their palates. They may eat it cooked, broiled or roasted, etc.1 Why did G-d insist that the Pesach-offering be eaten only roasted?

Answer: Partially raw and fully cooked meat hardly have an aroma. Roasted meat, however, can be smelled at a distance.

The Jews slaved in Egypt for many years and were petrified of their Egyptian masters. G-d's command to offer sheep, the animal worshipped by the Egyptians, as a Pesach-offering, frightened them. In order not to arouse the wrath of the Egyptians, they were going to eat it partially raw or fully cooked, hoping that the Egyptians would not notice.

Consequently, G-d told Moses to tell the people, "Enough is enough! Stop walking with your heads bowed down. Lift them up and be proud of the fact that you are Jews and free people. Roast the sacrifice on fire, let the aroma be smelled from one end of Egypt to the other, and let the entire country know that you are proudly worshipping your G-d."

"And it shall come to pass when your children will say to you, 'What is this service to you?' " (12:26)

Question: On Passover we associate this verse with the wicked son. What indication is there for this in the verse?

Answer: Children must respect and honor their parents. They should seek their guidance and follow their instruction. A good child does not tell his parents his decision and expect them to listen to him.

Since the Torah mentions a child who tells the parent his opinion, we deduce that we are not dealing with a good child, but rather the opposite.