In this sermon on Parashat Shemot, Rabbi Dara Frimmer reflects on how to resist unjust power without becoming oppressive ourselves. She contrasts the quiet, life-saving resistance of the midwives Shifra and Puah with Moses’ early act of violent resistance, which the rabbis view as immature and unsustainable.
The sermon teaches that Judaism rejects both silence and reckless action, calling instead for resistance that preserves life, dignity, and community. True resistance may be public or quiet, but it must be rooted in care, wisdom, and a fierce commitment to the value of every human life.