"We were slaves unto Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord our God brought us out with a strong hand and an outstretched arm."
- The Haggadah.

The Jewish people traces its origins to Abraham who lived some 4000 years ago in the area of Ur, an ancient city on the Euphrates in lower Mesopotania, in the midst of idol-worshippers who believed that there were gods controlling the various natural forces in the world.

Abraham was the first to understand that that there is only one God who created and controls the entire universe, and was commanded by God to leave his birthplace and to make his way to Canaan, the land destined to become the Land of Israel.

Once in Canaan, God entered into covenants with Abraham, still known by his former name Abram:

"Your name shall be Abraham... I will make you the father of a multitude of nations... I will maintain my covenant... throughout the ages... to be God to you [and] I assign the land to ... you and your offspring." (Genesis 17:3-8)

Furthermore:

"Know that your offspring shall be strangers in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

But I shall execute judgement on the nation that they shall serve, and in the end they shall go free with great wealth..." (Genesis 15:13-14)

And, indeed, Abraham begets Isaac whose son Jacob - renamed Israel - fathers the twelve tribes, the Children of Israel. Because of a famine in Canaan, Jacob and his sons go down to Egypt where they confront Joseph, the long-lost child sold into slavery who has risen to power in "a foreign land."

In Egypt
After Abraham fathers Isaac whose son Jacob - renamed Israel - fathers the twelve tribes, the Children of Israel, Jacob and his sons go down to Egypt because of a famine in Canaan. There,they confront Joseph, the long-lost child sold into slavery who has risen to power in "a foreign land."

Due to Joseph's prominence, Jacob and his family prosper in Egypt and are treated with honor. However, a new Pharoah arises after Joseph's death who is threatened by the disproportionately high population growth of the Children of Israel. The unfortunate visitors are now cruelly enslaved in building the cities of Pithom and Ramses for over 200 hundred years. Among other brutal restrictions, the order to have the Hebrew baby boys thrown into the river at birth probably capped them all.

Moses, the son of Amram and Yocheved, was spared since his mother placed him in a floating basket on the Nile and he was found by Pharoah's daughter who raised him in the royal palace. When Moses had grown to manhood, God appeared to him in the "burning bush" and commanded him to liberate the Israelites and bring them to the Land of Israel.

The Struggle with Pharoah
Moses' first confrontation with Pharoah only led to a worsening of conditions for the poor slaves whose trust in Moses was brought into question. Pharoah continuously refused to aquiesce to the demands of Moses and his brother Aaron, sent by God to request the deliverance of the Israelites with the well-known phrase: "Let My People Go!"

Ten plagues are visited upon Pharoah and his people that demonstrate God's overwhelming control over all the natural elements. But it is not until the first-born of Egypt are smitten down that Pharoah finally agrees to release his slaves.

God Heard Our Cries
Borrowing from the Bible, The Haggadah describes very poignantly how the slaves cried to God for salvation and how these cries were heard. The Exodus did not take place, however, without the slaves undergoing a a psychological transformation: They were to make an offering of the lamb - the Egyptian deity - right under the watchful eye of their previous taskmasters. The Israelites were to sprinkle the lambs' blood on their doorposts so that the "angel of death" would "pass over" their houses (hence the name of the festival).

In family groups, and with "loins girded", the Hebrews ate the lamb, ready to depart. After Pharoah relents, they rush out: there was not even time for their dough to rise. As a result the people ate unleavened bread or matzah.


The Exodus
Some 600,000 Children of Israel - besides women and children - left Egypt. When they reached the shores of the Red Sea, they were totally overwhelmed when they saw Pharoah's chariots in chasing after them. But the waters miraculously parted and they crossed over on dry land. As the pursuing Egyptians drew near; however, the waters of the sea returned to drown Pharoah and his hosts.

Once on the other side - and free - the Israelites recognized the greatness of the miracle. Moses leads them in a song of praise: Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea. The Midrash records how the angels, too, wished to add their acclaim. But God refuses: "The work of my hands is drowning in the sea, and you want to chant a song of victory before me!"

God's covenant to Abraham was fulfilled. Now that physical freedom had been achieved, it now remained for the Children of Israel to march on to spiritual freedom and the Land of Israel. Map of the Exodus

A Circuitous Journey
The slave mentality was ever prevalent as the Children of Israel fled ancient Egypt. So much so that the Bible records: "God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer, for God said - 'The people may have a change of heart...' " Nevertheless, despite their complaints, the Children of Israel accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai with a fierce loyalty expressed in their declaration: "We shall do, and we shall listen."

Doing was more difficult than listening, however, as the Sin of the Golden Calf revealed. Korach's revolt and the episode of the untrusting spies did not help either: a whole generation forfeited the right to enter the Promised Land. Nevertheless, a Holy Sanctuary was built, enemies were defeated and the tribes were consolidated in preparation for the nation-building that was to reach its climax years later under the Judges and Kings

And with the momentous crossing of the River Jordan under Joshua's command, the actual Exodus could be said to have been completed.