Daily Jewish Thought

The Plague of Darkness: The Battle Between Conscience and Corruption


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This class does a deep dive into the  psychological and mystical significance of Pharaoh’s final confrontation with Moses before the tenth plague. Throughout the first nine plagues, Pharaoh displayed a surprising level of tolerance towards Moses, despite the devastation he brought upon Egypt. But after the plague of darkness, something shifted—Pharaoh snapped and threatened Moses' life. Why was this the breaking point? Through Kabbalistic insight, we explore the Pharaoh within us all: the force that disconnects intellect from heart, numbing us to truth. Like an addict resisting recovery, Pharaoh’s descent into darkness mirrors the way we sometimes silence our own inner voice of conscience. Moses’ slap was not just an act of defiance—it was a symbolic moment marking Pharaoh’s complete spiritual collapse.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Pharaoh vs. Moses as an Inner Struggle: Pharaoh represents the ego’s resistance to change, while Moses is the voice of our moral conscience.
  2. Why Darkness Was the Breaking Point: The plague of darkness symbolizes the moment a person loses not only emotional awareness but also intellectual perception, making true transformation nearly impossible.
  3. The Danger of Losing Sight: A person may endure emotional and even intellectual corruption, but as long as they retain a glimmer of awareness—of something greater than themselves—there is still hope.
  4. The Addict’s Battle: Many struggle with self-destructive behaviors, hating yet needing their inner “Moses.” The moment they fully reject that voice, they risk losing themselves entirely.
  5. Moses’ Slap as a Spiritual Statement: The slap symbolizes that Pharaoh had lost all divine presence within him. He was no longer just a cruel oppressor; he was a man who had extinguished his own soul.

This class challenges us to consider: Are we listening to our inner Moses, or are we allowing our Pharaoh to take over? And most importantly—have we reached a point of darkness where we no longer even see the battle?

#Bible #Passover #Moses 

#BibleStudy #TorahLessons #Torah #Bo #Pharaoh #moshe #Kabbalah #TorahPortion #Sermon #Rabbi #chabad 

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Daily Jewish ThoughtBy [email protected] (Rabbi Yisroel Bernath)

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