Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Rabbi Hannah Elkin

It is always a good day when a child takes the words right out of a rabbi’s mouth. Last Sunday afternoon at religious school at the Resnick campus, I shared the story of this week’s Torah portion (as the Torah portion each week runs from Sunday-Saturday) with the Kindergarten-2nd Grade students. As I began the story of Moses confronting Pharaoh to let the Israelites out of slavery and into freedom, I told them that I had a question for them at the end, so they needed to listen very closely. We listed off each of the Ten Plagues together, which were brought on both by Pharaoh’s stubbornness and then God’s own part in hardening Pharaoh’s heart. I was just about to ask the big question that I had prepared them for when a little voice piped up. “Wait, why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Why would God do that?” My question exactly, I said.Each week, a member of the clergy offers their personal perspective on a topic of their choice, such as the week's Torah portion, a Jewish holiday, ritual, custom, or history. Facebook: Wilshire Boulevard TempleWebsite: wbtla.orgYoutube: Wilshire Boulevard TempleInstagram: wilshireboulevardtemple