Pesach II:

Miriam’s Role in Pesach:

Let us look at the role of Miriam, the sister of Moses, in the story of Passover. Her accomplishments include:

· The Midrash teaches us that because of Pharaoh’s edict condemning all males born to die in the Nile, Jewish men decide to divorce their wives. They do this to prevent the death of their unborn children. Miriam persuaded her father not to divorce Yocheved, his wife. Moshe was born soon thereafter. Without Miriam, Moshe would not have been born.

· The Midrash teaches us that Miriam was one of the two midwives who refused to obey Pharaoh and put the Hebrew children to death. Without Miriam, many Jewish children would have died.

· Miriam watched over Moshe when he was put into the Nile by his mother. Without Miriam, Moshe might have drowned.

· Miriam arranged for Yocheved to be the infant Moshe’s nursemaid after he was found in the Nile by the daughter of Pharoah. This resulted in Moshe’s being brought up by his mother, and being aware of his Jewish heritage. Without Miriam,Moshe would not have had a Jewish identity.

· Miriam led the song sung in praise of God after the miracle of the Red Sea. The Midrash teaches that this was the first song ever sung to God. Without Miriam, there would have been no songs in praise of God.

· The Midrash teaches us that the Israelites always had water in the wilderness because of Miriam. Because of Miriam, the Jews survived in the wilderness.

Miriam may be the most important character in the Biblical drama leading up to the Exodus and the wilderness experience

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Extreme burdens are not the most fatal affliction…a person may carry loads which are the size of mountains, but they are tolerable if he has taken them upon himself of his own free will

Samson Raphael Hirsch