Parasha Summary
Parashat Shemot begins the Book of Exodus, detailing the enslavement of Bnei Yisrael in Egypt and the birth of Moshe. Pharaoh, fearing Israel’s growth, imposes harsh labor and decrees the drowning of male infants. Moshe is saved by his mother and raised in Pharaoh’s palace. After killing an Egyptian taskmaster, he flees to Midian, where he marries Tzipporah. At the burning bush, Hashem reveals His Name (Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh) and commands Moshe to demand Pharaoh free Israel. Moshe hesitates, citing speech difficulties, but Aharon is appointed as his spokesman. The parasha ends with initial confrontations worsening Israel’s suffering, setting the stage for redemption.
