Parsha Ve'eira: The Moral Failure of Plausible Deniability

In our Torah portion this week, Shemot (Exodus) Parsha Va'eira 6:2 - 9:35, Moses and Aaron voluntarily enter the epicenter of evil to plead the Jewish case for liberation. Moses conveys God's desire that the Jews be separated from oppression in Egypt so they may worship the Almighty without fear of reprisal.

The Reality of God Revealed but Denied

Moses comes equipped with demonstrations of God's magic and supernatural powers superior to the abilities of Pharaoh's sorcerers. National terrors ensue each time Pharaoh rejects a request to free the Jews. He will not let them go. He insists on having his own way despite growing social harms and public unrest. 

Pharaoh refuses to acknowledge the miracles demonstrated by Moses. He rejects the idea that they emanate from a Divine source. His worldview places him at the center and highest position possible. Devastating consequences to Pharaoh's reign and country result from his persistent denial. 

We are told that God 'hardens Pharaoh's heart' in order to demonstrate His many miracles. These supernatural events will convince the Hebrews to abandon paganism, not only physically through exodus, but spiritually through a conversion to belief in an incorporeal, omnipresent God. 

Our Haftarah portion, Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 28:25-29:21, recalls the troubles in Egypt and the exodus. The prophet promises a redeemed Israel, a future nation impervious to invasion, secure under the grace of God,  Ezekiel also points out that Egypt's pagan worldview and arrogance will be its demise. The Babylonians will rise and replace Egypt as the most powerful empire on Earth.

Moral Failure Topples Empire

The Torah and Haftarah readings this week double down on the idea that empire wealth is no guarantee of national resiliece. History proves that even the most powerful nation states ultimately fail due to moral failure.

Allowing abortion homicide certainly meets the threshold for moral failure. We see evidence of this happening today in horrific death counts of unborn babies from abortion homicide. As native born fertility rates plummet, immigrant populations  explode, leading to seismic demographic shifts that are proving national disasters because policy makers deny the demographic ruin of baby killing without limits.

The UK is a startling example. Almost 300,000 UK citizens died in abortions in 2023. With more economic pressure on family formation and easy abortion pill access. we can expect higher numbers in 2024 and 2025. This accounts for the projected fertility rate of 1.41% by 2027.  While native Brits die in the womb, a net growth of 4.9 million people by 2032  is forecast to be entirely made up of migration.

The World Health Organization estimates 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year. The World Data reports 1,141,830 induced abortions in the United States in 2024. Hadassah reveals 20,000 induced abortions annually in Israel. Added to this dismal reality is the new report by The Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel that says the country’s population growth dropped to 1.1 percent in 2025. 

Pharaoh's experience shows us that denying God's demonstrable presence and power has irreparable consequences on a nation. Today, plausible deniability of sentient human life in the womb, created and willed by God, remains strong despite visible proof as seen in the Miracle of Life video. 

This miracle happens thousands of times a day around the globe. It is rendered in videos like this, in ultrasound imaging, and obviously in the birth of human beings. Hardening our hearts to this miracle of life and the Creator's role in our lives spells doom no matter our economic and military strength. We do so at our own peril.

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Cecily Routman

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.

Cecily Routman is the founder and president of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation. She opposes abortion homicide in general and among Jews in particular and laments secular policy making in Israel that results in loss of Jewish life and delays the messianic redemption. Cecily envisions a Torah based holy Land of Israel and a world that respects the life of every human being from conception.

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