Torah Portion of the Week

Va'era וארא

Exodus 6:2–9:35

Parshat Va'era records the first seven of the ten plagues that God brings upon Egypt. God reassures Moses with the four expressions of redemption, reveals the divine name, and sends Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh. Each plague — blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, pestilence, boils, and hail — escalates the confrontation, but Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.

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1 of 8

God's Promise and the Four Expressions of Redemption

הבטחת ה׳ וארבע לשונות הגאולה

Exodus 6:2–6:8

God speaks to Moses using the name YHVH and delivers the four promises that form the heart of the Passover seder: 'I will bring you out... I will deliver you... I will redeem you... I will take you as My people.' He also promises the land sworn to the patriarchs.

2 of 8

Moses' Despair and the Genealogy

ייאוש משה והיוחסין

Exodus 6:9–6:30

The Israelites cannot hear Moses due to their crushed spirits and hard labor. Moses protests to God: 'If the Israelites will not listen to me, how will Pharaoh?' The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi traces Moses and Aaron's lineage to establish their credentials for the mission ahead.

3 of 8

Aaron's Staff Becomes a Serpent

מטה אהרן נהפך לנחש

Exodus 7:1–7:13

God tells Moses: 'I have made you as a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.' Before Pharaoh, Aaron casts down his staff and it becomes a serpent. Pharaoh's magicians replicate the feat, but Aaron's staff swallows theirs — a sign of God's supremacy. Yet Pharaoh's heart is hardened.

4 of 8

First Plague: Blood

מכת דם

Exodus 7:14–7:25

Aaron strikes the Nile with his staff and all the water in Egypt turns to blood. The fish die, the river stinks, and the Egyptians cannot drink. Pharaoh's magicians replicate the feat, so Pharaoh refuses to relent. The plague lasts seven days.

5 of 8

Second and Third Plagues: Frogs and Lice

מכת צפרדע וכינים

Exodus 7:26–8:15

Frogs swarm out of the Nile and overrun Egypt — bedrooms, ovens, kneading bowls. Pharaoh begs Moses to pray and promises to let the people go, but reneges when the frogs die. Aaron then strikes the dust and it becomes lice throughout Egypt. The magicians cannot replicate this and tell Pharaoh: 'This is the finger of God.'

6 of 8

Fourth and Fifth Plagues: Wild Beasts and Pestilence

מכת ערוב ודבר

Exodus 8:16–9:7

God sends swarms of wild beasts that destroy the land, but the region of Goshen where Israel dwells is spared — the first explicit distinction between Egypt and Israel. Pharaoh negotiates, then reneges. A severe pestilence then kills all Egyptian livestock, while not a single Israelite animal dies.

7 of 8

Sixth Plague: Boils

מכת שחין

Exodus 9:8–9:12

Moses and Aaron take soot from the furnace and throw it heavenward before Pharaoh. It becomes fine dust that causes boils breaking out on all Egyptians and their animals. The magicians cannot even stand before Moses because of the boils. God hardens Pharaoh's heart.

8 of 8

Seventh Plague: Hail

מכת ברד

Exodus 9:13–9:35

God sends the most severe hailstorm in Egypt's history — hail with fire flashing within it. It strikes down everything in the fields — people, animals, plants, trees — except in Goshen. Pharaoh summons Moses: 'I have sinned; the Lord is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong.' But when the hail stops, he hardens his heart again.

Prophetic Reading

Haftarah הפטרה

Ezekiel 28:25–29:21

יחזקאל

Ezekiel prophesies against Pharaoh and Egypt, echoing the plagues narrative. God declares judgment against the arrogant Egyptian ruler, just as He did through Moses.

Full Text

Parshat Va'era

Exodus 6:2–9:35 · 121 verses

First Aliyah

ראשוןExodus 6:2–6:13

Chapter 6

פרק 6

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2 וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְהֹוָֽה

3 וָאֵרָא אֶל אַבְרָהָם אֶל יִצְחָק וְאֶֽל יַעֲקֹב בְּאֵל שַׁדָּי וּשְׁמִי יְהֹוָה לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶֽם

4 וְגַם הֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם לָתֵת לָהֶם אֶת אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן אֵת אֶרֶץ מְגֻרֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר גָּרוּ בָֽהּ

5 וְגַם אֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶֽת נַאֲקַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר מִצְרַיִם מַעֲבִדִים אֹתָם וָאֶזְכֹּר אֶת בְּרִיתִֽי

6 לָכֵן אֱמֹר לִבְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי יְהֹוָה וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סִבְלֹת מִצְרַיִם וְהִצַּלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מֵעֲבֹדָתָם וְגָאַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בִּזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבִשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִֽים

7 וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לִי לְעָם וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵֽאלֹהִים וִֽידַעְתֶּם כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרָֽיִם

8 וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת יָדִי לָתֵת אֹתָהּ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹב וְנָתַתִּי אֹתָהּ לָכֶם מוֹרָשָׁה אֲנִי יְהֹוָֽה

9 וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה כֵּן אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא שָֽׁמְעוּ אֶל מֹשֶׁה מִקֹּצֶר רוּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָה קָשָֽׁה

10 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר

11 בֹּא דַבֵּר אֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם וִֽישַׁלַּח אֶת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ

12 וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה לֵאמֹר הֵן בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹֽא שָׁמְעוּ אֵלַי וְאֵיךְ יִשְׁמָעֵנִי פַרְעֹה וַאֲנִי עֲרַל שְׂפָתָֽיִם

13 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאֶֽל אַהֲרֹן וַיְצַוֵּם אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם לְהוֹצִיא אֶת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am GOD.

3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but I did not make Myself known to them by My name GOD [יהוה]. , lit. “(the) Sovereign,” is regularly substituted for it.

4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.

5 I have now heard the moaning of the Israelites because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

6 Say, therefore, to the Israelite people: I am GOD. I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and through extraordinary chastisements.

7 And I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God. And you shall know that I, the ETERNAL , am your God who freed you from the labors of the Egyptians.

8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession, I GOD.”

9 But when Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses, their spirits crushed by cruel bondage.

10 GOD spoke to Moses, saying,

11 “Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites depart from his land.”

12 But Moses appealed to GOD, saying, “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, me—who gets tongue-tied!”

13 So GOD spoke to both Moses and Aaron in regard to the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, instructing them to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt.

2 וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְהֹוָֽה

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am GOD.

3 וָאֵרָא אֶל אַבְרָהָם אֶל יִצְחָק וְאֶֽל יַעֲקֹב בְּאֵל שַׁדָּי וּשְׁמִי יְהֹוָה לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶֽם

3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but I did not make Myself known to them by My name GOD [יהוה]. , lit. “(the) Sovereign,” is regularly substituted for it.

4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.

5 I have now heard the moaning of the Israelites because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

7 And I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God. And you shall know that I, the ETERNAL , am your God who freed you from the labors of the Egyptians.

8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession, I GOD.”

9 But when Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses, their spirits crushed by cruel bondage.

10 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר

10 GOD spoke to Moses, saying,

11 בֹּא דַבֵּר אֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם וִֽישַׁלַּח אֶת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ

11 “Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites depart from his land.”

12 But Moses appealed to GOD, saying, “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, me—who gets tongue-tied!”

13 So GOD spoke to both Moses and Aaron in regard to the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, instructing them to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt.

Second Aliyah

שניExodus 6:14–6:28

Chapter 6

פרק 6

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14 אֵלֶּה רָאשֵׁי בֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹר יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲנוֹךְ וּפַלּוּא חֶצְרֹן וְכַרְמִי אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת רְאוּבֵֽן

15 וּבְנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן יְמוּאֵל וְיָמִין וְאֹהַד וְיָכִין וְצֹחַר וְשָׁאוּל בֶּן הַֽכְּנַעֲנִית אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת שִׁמְעֽוֹן

16 וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵֽי לֵוִי לְתֹלְדֹתָם גֵּרְשׁוֹן וּקְהָת וּמְרָרִי וּשְׁנֵי חַיֵּי לֵוִי שֶׁבַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָֽה

17 בְּנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן לִבְנִי וְשִׁמְעִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם

18 וּבְנֵי קְהָת עַמְרָם וְיִצְהָר וְחֶבְרוֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵל וּשְׁנֵי חַיֵּי קְהָת שָׁלֹשׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָֽה

19 וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי מַחְלִי וּמוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַלֵּוִי לְתֹלְדֹתָֽם

20 וַיִּקַּח עַמְרָם אֶת יוֹכֶבֶד דֹּֽדָתוֹ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶֽת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת מֹשֶׁה וּשְׁנֵי חַיֵּי עַמְרָם שֶׁבַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָֽה

21 וּבְנֵי יִצְהָר קֹרַח וָנֶפֶג וְזִכְרִֽי

22 וּבְנֵי עֻזִּיאֵל מִֽישָׁאֵל וְאֶלְצָפָן וְסִתְרִֽי

23 וַיִּקַּח אַהֲרֹן אֶת אֱלִישֶׁבַע בַּת עַמִּינָדָב אֲחוֹת נַחְשׁוֹן לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶת נָדָב וְאֶת אֲבִיהוּא אֶת אֶלְעָזָר וְאֶת אִֽיתָמָֽר

24 וּבְנֵי קֹרַח אַסִּיר וְאֶלְקָנָה וַאֲבִיאָסָף אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקׇּרְחִֽי

25 וְאֶלְעָזָר בֶּֽן אַהֲרֹן לָקַֽח לוֹ מִבְּנוֹת פּֽוּטִיאֵל לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶת פִּֽינְחָס אֵלֶּה רָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹת הַלְוִיִּם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם

26 הוּא אַהֲרֹן וּמֹשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהֹוָה לָהֶם הוֹצִיאוּ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עַל צִבְאֹתָֽם

27 הֵם הַֽמְדַבְּרִים אֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶֽלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לְהוֹצִיא אֶת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם הוּא מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹֽן

28 וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

14 The following are the heads of their respective clans. The sons of Reuben, Israel’s first-born: Enoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; those are the families of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Saul the son of a Canaanite woman; those are the families of Simeon.

16 These are the names of Levi’s sons by their lineage: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the span of Levi’s life was 137 years.

17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their families.

18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the span of Kohath’s life was 133 years.

19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their lineage.

20 Amram took to wife his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the span of Amram’s life was 137 years.

21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23 Aaron took to wife Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Those are the families of the Korahites.

25 And Aaron’s son Eleazar took to wife one of Putiel’s daughters, and she bore him Phinehas. Those are the heads of the ancestral houses of the Levites by their families.

26 It is the same Aaron and Moses to whom GOD said, “Bring forth the Israelites from the land of Egypt, troop by troop.”

27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to free the Israelites from the Egyptians; these are the same Moses and Aaron.

28 For when GOD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt

14 The following are the heads of their respective clans. The sons of Reuben, Israel’s first-born: Enoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; those are the families of Reuben.

15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Saul the son of a Canaanite woman; those are the families of Simeon.

16 These are the names of Levi’s sons by their lineage: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the span of Levi’s life was 137 years.

17 בְּנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן לִבְנִי וְשִׁמְעִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם

17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their families.

18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the span of Kohath’s life was 133 years.

19 וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי מַחְלִי וּמוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַלֵּוִי לְתֹלְדֹתָֽם

19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their lineage.

20 Amram took to wife his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the span of Amram’s life was 137 years.

21 וּבְנֵי יִצְהָר קֹרַח וָנֶפֶג וְזִכְרִֽי

21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22 וּבְנֵי עֻזִּיאֵל מִֽישָׁאֵל וְאֶלְצָפָן וְסִתְרִֽי

22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23 Aaron took to wife Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

24 וּבְנֵי קֹרַח אַסִּיר וְאֶלְקָנָה וַאֲבִיאָסָף אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקׇּרְחִֽי

24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Those are the families of the Korahites.

25 And Aaron’s son Eleazar took to wife one of Putiel’s daughters, and she bore him Phinehas. Those are the heads of the ancestral houses of the Levites by their families.

26 It is the same Aaron and Moses to whom GOD said, “Bring forth the Israelites from the land of Egypt, troop by troop.”

27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to free the Israelites from the Egyptians; these are the same Moses and Aaron.

28 וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

28 For when GOD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt

Third Aliyah

שלישיExodus 6:29–7:7

Chapter 6

פרק 6

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29 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר אֲנִי יְהֹוָה דַּבֵּר אֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם אֵת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי דֹּבֵר אֵלֶֽיךָ

30 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה הֵן אֲנִי עֲרַל שְׂפָתַיִם וְאֵיךְ יִשְׁמַע אֵלַי פַּרְעֹֽה

29 And GOD said to Moses, “I am GOD; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I will tell you,”

30 Moses appealed to GOD, saying, “See, I get tongue-tied; how then should Pharaoh heed me!”

29 And GOD said to Moses, “I am GOD; speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I will tell you,”

30 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה הֵן אֲנִי עֲרַל שְׂפָתַיִם וְאֵיךְ יִשְׁמַע אֵלַי פַּרְעֹֽה

30 Moses appealed to GOD, saying, “See, I get tongue-tied; how then should Pharaoh heed me!”

Chapter 7

פרק 7

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1 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה רְאֵה נְתַתִּיךָ אֱלֹהִים לְפַרְעֹה וְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ יִהְיֶה נְבִיאֶֽךָ

2 אַתָּה תְדַבֵּר אֵת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּךָּ וְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ יְדַבֵּר אֶל פַּרְעֹה וְשִׁלַּח אֶת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ

3 וַאֲנִי אַקְשֶׁה אֶת לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת אֹתֹתַי וְאֶת מוֹפְתַי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

4 וְלֹֽא יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵכֶם פַּרְעֹה וְנָתַתִּי אֶת יָדִי בְּמִצְרָיִם וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶת צִבְאֹתַי אֶת עַמִּי בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בִּשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִֽים

5 וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּֽי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה בִּנְטֹתִי אֶת יָדִי עַל מִצְרָיִם וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָֽם

6 וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֹתָם כֵּן עָשֽׂוּ

7 וּמֹשֶׁה בֶּן שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה וְאַֽהֲרֹן בֶּן שָׁלֹשׁ וּשְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה בְּדַבְּרָם אֶל פַּרְעֹֽה

1 GOD replied to Moses, “See, I place you in the role of God to Pharaoh, with your brother Aaron as your prophet.

2 You shall repeat all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh to let the Israelites depart from his land.

3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that I may multiply My signs and marvels in the land of Egypt.

4 When Pharaoh does not heed you, I will lay My hand upon Egypt and deliver My ranks, My people the Israelites, from the land of Egypt with extraordinary chastisements.

5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am GOD, when I stretch out My hand over Egypt and bring out the Israelites from their midst.”

6 This Moses and Aaron did; as GOD commanded them, so they did.

7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they made their demand on Pharaoh.