Jochebed was the daughter of Levi, third of Jacob’s sons. She was born just as Jacob and his family entered Egypt, where they were destined to be cruelly enslaved. She married Amram and became the mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam.

When the Jewish people were enslaved in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered that all newborn Jewish baby boys be put to death. Jochebed was then the chief Jewish midwife in Egypt. Pharaoh sent for Jochebed and Miriam, her daughter, and warned them that they must carry out his decree.

After leaving the palace, Miriam said: “Mother, what are we going to do? You are not going to kill little babies, are you?” “Heaven forbid!” Jochebed replied. “Our father Abraham taught us to help people live, even strangers. He set up inns at the crossroads to provide shelter and food for everybody. We are going to work harder than ever to see that every Jewish child should be saved.”

From that day on, Jochebed and Miriam worked day and night helping Jewish mothers to deliver and nurture their babies in secret. One of those babies was her own son, Moses, who became the greatest Jewish leader of all time. From Jochebed we learn that it’s not enough to know what’s right and wrong—we must have the strength to carry out our convictions. She did what she knew was right, even at the risk of her life, and G‑d protected and rewarded her.


Resources

Read a complete biography of Jochebed


In Depth Study

Midwives—Pioneers of Faith
Childbirth, perhaps more than any other life event, is an experience that demands a strong dose of faith and surrender. No matter how well planned or organized we may be, the inevitable moment will arise . . . Read


Jochebed: Planting the Seeds of Leadership
As the mother of young children, the peaks and valleys of parenting make it easy to lose perspective. It will be years before I will see the fruits of my labor . . . Read