Parashat Va’era - Chains of Bondage and Magic Crocodiles

 This week’s parasha continues the story of Moshe and Aaron working to free the Israelites from slavery.

Midrash tells that the Israelites were not enslaved all at once. Rather, they were lured with kindness, asked to help out with certain tasks, and ever so slowly led into servitude. Three of this week’s challot represent this idea. Two are filled with sweetness (chocolate). The cupcake challah is tied into knots, while the other is made of chocolate-filled, twisted strands that then intertwine in a braid. 

          

The third challah is made of three interlocked chains. One large chain makes up the base, with two others draped across, representing the many generations, one upon another, wrapped in chains of bondage.

The final challah is a crocodile. Pirkei Avot, chapter 5 contains a list of ten things made during the final moments of creation. (It’s one of my my favourite texts). Among these things is “וְהַמַּטֶּה,” “the staff.” Perhaps this is Moshe’s staff, perhaps it is Aaron’s. Maybe they share the staff, using it when appropriate. Either way, “the staff” that transforms into a snake last week and a reptile of sorts this week is a magical object, created directly by God. And so, this week’s final challah transformed into a crocodile. 

                          

Here is the whole mishnah - (My favourite part is the creation of tongs, for tongs require tongs to make.)

עֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, פִּי הָאָרֶץ, וּפִי הַבְּאֵר, וּפִי הָאָתוֹן, וְהַקֶּשֶׁת, וְהַמָּן, וְהַמַּטֶּה, וְהַשָּׁמִיר, וְהַכְּתָב, וְהַמִּכְתָּב, וְהַלּוּחוֹת. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף הַמַּזִּיקִין, וּקְבוּרָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וְאֵילוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף צְבָת בִּצְבָת עֲשׂוּיָה: Ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath at twilight, and these are they: [1] the mouth of the earth, [2] the mouth of the well, [3] the mouth of the donkey, [4] the rainbow, [5] the manna, [6] the staff, [7] the shamir, [8] the letters, [9] the writing, [10] and the tablets. And some say: also the demons, the grave of Moses, and the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: and also tongs, made with tongs.

Celebrating the arrival of 2022 with chocolate challah and Bartenura asti. I hope it will be an improvement over 2020 and 2021. 

Shabbat shalom. (In Sean’s words,) Stay safe; stay sane.