This week, we begin the second book of the Torah, Shemot, which tells the hard and bitter experience of slavery in Egypt, but immediately tells us about the birth of Moses, who was sent by Hashem, to lead the people, free them and take them to the promised land, the land of Israel.

God had promised Abraham that his descendants would receive the promised land, that same promise was reaffirmed by God to Isaac and then to Jacob; It was this lineage that received the land after slavery, liberation and the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.

Abraham had other children with a concubine named Hagar, but Abraham’s other children were not the ones who continued the lineage, nor the tradition, nor were they slaves in Egypt.

It is we who continue with the same tradition, the same language and the same history. It is we who every year celebrate at the seder, the exit from slavery in Egypt on the holiday of Pesach.

Regardless of the attempts of Israel’s enemies, who wish to change the narrative by blatantly lying to keep the heritage that belongs to the people of Israel. However, our belief is that God will always be present to help us in difficult times and especially when we feel alone, watching many people support the terrorists instead of helping and supporting the real victims.

But as has always happened historically, those who try to annihilate us will end up disappearing, just as has happened throughout history with all those who have wanted to eliminate us. From this situation that we have to live in, we will emerge stronger, victorious and with a higher consciousness and the world will recognize that we are the true heirs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and therefore the heirs of the land of Israel, the sacred land.

We, the people of Israel, with more than 4,000 years of history, since the patriarch Abraham, have gone through and overcome many different complicated and difficult moments. Despite this, our people have always demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome problems and changes.

Faith, tradition, and resilience have been fundamental pillars to overcome the different stages of difficulties. In fact, with each situation overcome, we have become stronger physically and emotionally.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen