Friday January 3,1997                                      Erev Shabbat 
Tevet 24, 5757

Sh'mot (Exodus 1:1-6:1)

Something to think about:

	As we read of our people's descent into slavery we are also
introduced to some of its greatest heroes.  Two women play an interesting
role in our early development: Shifra and Pu'ah.  These two midwives went
out of their way to insure the safe delivery of many Jewish newborn
children.  

	Though there are a few opinions amongst the early Torah
commentaries that these were two Egyptian midwives; according to most [and
this is the traditionally learned understanding] these two women are
better known to us as, Yocheved, mother of Moshe (Moses) and Miriam, his
sister.  Pharaoh ordered them to commit infanticide by killing all male
newborn during delivery.  They risked their lives by ignoring this command
and to the contrary, did everything in their power to give them life. 
	
	What was their motive?  What would be your or my motive?  Killing
children!  What kind of monster would it take to do this.  Of course, any decent
human being would refuse.  Human beings don't do things like that.  That
might be my response, but that is not what the Torah tells us about them. 
"But the midwives feared G-d and did not heed the command of Pharaoh"
(1:17) 
	
	While praising these righteous women, we are being taught an
important lesson about the anchor and foundation of our morality and
values.  If I shrink away in horror from an act that is inhumane, what
happens when tomorrow or in twenty years from now it is socially
acceptable.  Be in infanticide or euthanasia.  Our history is full of
monstrous acts that have been socially and governmentally sanctioned.  Do
I refuse the unthinkable because I haven^Òt thought about it, yet; or
because an authority greater than myself says, "NO."
	
	It is of tremendous consequence that somewhere in calculating our
ethics and morals that a ^Ófear of Hashem^Ô enter the equation.  This
provides us with structure and guidelines that will help resist ethics
that change along with last years fashions.

For Columbus, Ohio:            Candle lighting-5:01           Shabbat
Ends-6:05

Good Shabbos!!                             Rabbi  Hirsh Michel Chinn

I dedicate this fax to the memory of a friend, Ami E, whose untimely
passing reminds us to appreciate the joy and even the struggle of today