"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.”
Exodus 10:1-2

Hi friend,

Root Source began with a simple calling—to show up in faith and love. Today, that calling needs committed partners to carry it forward. Check below!

This coming Shabbat's Torah portion, read on Saturday, January 24th, is Parashat Bo. In this week’s reading, Bo, the last three plagues—Locust, Darkness, and Death of the Firstborn—are inflicted upon the Egyptians. Moses commands the Israelites concerning the Paschal offering and the laws of the Seder. After the final plague, Pharaoh unconditionally releases the Israelites from his land. 

The Echoes Bible began with an extraordinary, God-led discovery. If you missed the beginning—or want to experience it again—check it out below.

Join us in exploring the Weekly Bible Chapter: Is Giving Birth a Dirty Sin? A surprising-even humorous-rabbinic answer by Avidan Freedman with Rabbi Avraham Norin, and let’s learn and reflect together! 

Please enjoy this teaching of our beloved Root Source teacher, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz of blessed memory, about this week's Torah portion, Bo, and share your thoughts with us!

Last week, our popular Root Source teacher Rabbi Gedalia Meyer talked about Va'era. Watch it below.

Check below to hear what Gidon Ariel and Richard Booker have to share. Watch it below.

We sign off with a nice comment and a beautiful photo of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

Shalom,

Gidon Ariel and Bob O’Dell 
Root Source Founders

A personal note from Gidon

Root Source was born from a belief that showing up matters—rooted in faith, responsibility, and a deep love for Israel. At this pivotal moment, we invite you to help carry that mission forward by becoming a committed monthly partner.

Plague Eight: At G‑d’s behest, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and delivered a warning: “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they can worship Me!” They informed Pharaoh that if he does not allow the Israelites to go, Egypt will be attacked by a plague of locusts. After Moses and Aaron left, Pharaoh’s servants begged him to allow the Israelites to leave. “Don’t you yet know that Egypt is lost?” they argued. Pharaoh called back Moses and Aaron, and offered to allow the Israelites to leave—provided that they leave behind their children as security. Moses and Aaron refused the offer, and Pharaoh stubbornly refused to allow the Israelites to go.

How did The Echoes Bible HAPPEN?

The Echoes Bible is, without a doubt, the most surprising project I have ever undertaken. It all began twenty years ago, in 2005, while I was riding a train through the Midlands of England on my way back to London to catch a flight home to Austin, Texas. As the countryside rolled past my window, I was quietly thanking God for the completion of a fruitful series of meetings I had just finished in Germany and the UK.

It’s a hard chapter to read. Almost every one of chapter 12’s eight short verses says something that evokes reactions from puzzlement to discomfort to outrage. To grapple with these challenges, we need to listen most carefully to something which is not said.

Gidon and Richard discuss the Verse from Hebrews 11:6, “God rewards those who diligently seek him,” and especially the first part of that verse, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” and how that compares and contrasts to the passage in Mishna Pirkei Avot (Chapters of the Fathers), chapter 3 mishna 10: “those who are pleasing to others are pleasing to God, and those who are not pleasing to others are not pleasing to God.” 

Comments

We get so many comments!
Here is one from Kerry Lee Angel on last week's Parashat Shemot:

"Thank you kindly for this passage of information about how the Jewish people were challenged by their position of exile. I appreciate the questions provided about my personal challenges of belonging to a family that are important to my general health and well being. Having a sense of identity of belonging within my family seems to be more a challenge than having an identity in the Christian family of believers with our roots in the Judeo/Christian tradition.

thank you so much for helping me. many blessings,
Kerry Lee Angel
Western Australia 🇦🇺"

Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Enjoy this photo of the Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel by Adam Jang. 

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