The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Jewish woman are unlike the Mitzrayim woman’. (1:19)
Pharaoh came to the midwives with a complaint - ‘I told you to kill all the Jewish boys that are born. Why haven’t you followed my instructions? After all Jews believe that one must follow the laws of the land where you live’.
“So, the midwives answered the Jewish woman are unlike the Mitzrayim woman - you are applying this law only to Jewish woman. the obligation to follow the laws of the land only applies in Jewish law when the laws of the land are applied to everyone - not just to the Jews.
Pharaoh’s response was Pharaoh commanded to all his people saying ‘Every son that will be born - even a Mitzri - into the river shall you throw him’. We have no choice but to apply this decree to Mitzrim as well. (Ktzos Hachoshen)
Reprinted from the Parashat Shemot 5785 email of R’ Yedidye Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parsha sheet for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn.
