Hebrew midwives and Jewish history recap (Year 8 Iyun)

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Who did Rav and Shmuel identify as the 'meyaldot ha’Ivriot' and what was their relationship according to each of them?

Rav identified them as mother and daughter, while Shmuel identified them as mother and daughter-in-law.

What were the meanings behind the names 'Shifra' and 'Pu’ah' according to the text?

Shifra means 'she makes the child shapely' and Pu’ah means 'she purrs, talks, and coos to the child.'

What did Pharaoh command the midwives to do?

To kill the Jewish baby boys as soon as they were born

What was their dilemma and which option did they choose?

They knew that following Pharaoh's orders and killing the babies was wrong but if they didn't do what they were told to do by Pharaoh they risked being put to death. They chose to defy Pharaoh's orders. Signup and view all the answers

What are some key Muslim beliefs?

Muslims believe there is only one God. In Arabic the name for God is Allah.  Muslims believe in the holy books of The Qur’an, The Torah (Tawrat), The Gospels(Injeel) and The Psalms/Tehillim (Zaboor)  Muslims believe in the Prophets (special messengers who can communicate with God)  In Islam, the most important prophet was a man called Muhammad  Muslims believe that Muhammad received messages from Allah, given to him by an angel called Gabriel (Jibril) Signup and view all the answers

What do Muslims believe about Muhammad?

According to Islam he was the last prophet to be sent by Allah. Signup and view all the answers

Which angel came to speak to Muhammad?

Angel Jibril (Gabriel) Signup and view all the answers

What similarities between Judaism and Islam can you think of?

Muhammad was very much influenced by the Jewish religion. Muslims also believe in the Torah and many other books from the Tanach. Belief in one God. In fact there are many other similarities between Islamic and Jewish beliefs such as certain times of the day to pray, not eating certain foods, dressing modestly, not having images in places of worship etc. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Jews of Medina not give Muhammad a warm welcome?

After fleeing Mecca, Muhammad went to Medina, a city that had three Jewish tribes living in it. Muhammad had hoped for a warm welcome from the Jews of Medina – but they did not accept this new Religion Signup and view all the answers

What was the Pact of Omar?

Muhammad died in the year 632 CE. One of the next leaders of the Muslims was Caliph Omar. Omar and his generals conquered Egypt, Israel, Syria and Persia – spreading the faith of Islam throughout the whole Middle Eastern region. They then set about spreading Islam through North Africa, Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Just after this, the Quran, which had been passed down by word of mouth, was written down by Caliph Othman. As time passed by, Muslims came to re-interpret passages of the Qur’an. Jews and Christians could live under Muslim rule so long as they were oprepared to sign and live under the Pact of Omar. The Pact of Omar required that non-Muslims pay certain taxes to Muslims and it stopped non-Muslims from practising any other religion in public. However, it allowed Jews to live peacefully alongside their Muslim neighbours. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Midwives in Exodus

Rav identified the 'meyaldot ha’Ivriot' as Shifra, while Shmuel identified her as Pu’ah; both names refer to the same midwives but imply different roles or meanings.
According to Rav, Shifra was a wise and skilled midwife, while Shmuel characterized Pu’ah as one who comforted and soothed the newborns.

Names Shifra and Pu’ah

The name 'Shifra' translates to "to make beautiful," indicating the midwives' role in ensuring the healthy birth of babies.
'Pu’ah' means "to cry out," reflecting the midwives' role in comforting the infants during childbirth.

Pharaoh's Command

Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill all Hebrew baby boys at birth but allowed baby girls to live.

Dilemma of Midwives

The midwives faced a moral dilemma: obey Pharaoh's order and murder innocent children or reject his command and risk punishment.
They chose to defy Pharaoh, saving the boys and lying about their actions, claiming Hebrew women gave birth too quickly for them to intervene.

Key Muslim Beliefs

Belief in one God (Allah) who is merciful and sovereign over all creation.
Faith in the prophets, with Muhammad being the final prophet sent to humanity.
Importance of the Five Pillars of Islam, which include declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage.

Beliefs about Muhammad

Muhammad is considered the "Seal of the Prophets" and is revered as the messenger of God's final revelations.
Muslims believe he received the Qur'an from Allah through the angel Gabriel.

Angel Gabriel

The angel Gabriel (Jibril) is the celestial being who conveyed God's messages to Muhammad, guiding him in his prophetic mission.

Similarities between Judaism and Islam

Both religions emphasize monotheism, the worship of a single, omnipotent God.
They share common prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and others, featured in the sacred texts.
The practice of dietary laws and rituals, such as prayer and fasting, is significant in both faiths.

Jewish Reception in Medina

The Jews of Medina were initially hesitant to welcome Muhammad due to their prior expectations of a prophet and concerns about his teachings.
Some Jewish tribes felt threatened by the shift in power dynamics following Muhammad's arrival.

Pact of Omar

The Pact of Omar is an agreement outlining the rights and protections granted to non-Muslims (dhimmis) living under Muslim rule.
It established the conditions for coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims, emphasizing respect and protection for religious minorities in exchange for a poll tax.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge about the interpretations of the identities of 'meyaldot ha’Ivriot' and their significance in the context of the story involving Sotah and the King of Egypt. This quiz focuses on the commentary from Rashi in the book of Shemot.