Family Role Cards: 5

The Amram Family

Leaders of the Exodus

Name: Amram

You are head of the land of Goshen community, an important person and popular among your Jewish brothers. Your wife, Yokheved is the mother of three children -- Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. The decrees are severe. Jews are forced to perform hard labor, building cities and pyramids for Pharaoh.

It causes you great pain to see Jews as slaves. You know the time has come to organize and act. Your son Moses claims that G-d appeared to him and told him to approach Pharaoh, king of Egypt and say to him, "Let My people go that they may serve Me in the desert." G-d has remembered His promise to take the Children of Israel out of Egypt and bring us to the land of Israel.

You believe that:

• G-d has not abandoned His people and will keep His promise.
• You must all organize and leave Egypt.
• You must pray to G-d.
• The land of Israel is the only land for the Jews.

Name: Yokheved

You are the wife of Amram and mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. You are a professional midwife, and in spite of Pharaoh's decrees, you have continued helping Jewish women to give birth in secret. If Pharaoh's police discover your activities, they will kill you, but you believe that G-d will protect you and your family. Your son Moses claims that G-d appeared to him and told him to approach Pharaoh, king of Egypt and say to him "Let My people go that they may serve Me in the desert." You know that G-d has remembered His promise to take the Children of Israel out of Egypt and bring them to the land of Israel.

You believe that:

• G-d will always protect the Children of Israel.
• Charity protects one from death.
• The land of Israel is the land of the Jews.
• Jews must pray.

Name: Moses

You killed an Egyptian who was beating a Jew, and then you fled to the desert. There you met Jethro and married one of his daughters. You have two children.

G-d appeared to you and told you that you must go to Pharaoh and say to him, "Let My people go that they may serve Me in the desert." You believe in G-d and in the revelation you received; however, you are afraid that Pharaoh will not let you and the Jews leave. Moreover, you fear that the Jews themselves will not believe you and that they will not want to leave Egypt (some worship Egyptian gods and are quite happy in Egypt). Your mission is not an easy one for you (you also have some sort of speech impediment).

You believe that:

• G-d has not forgotten the Children of Israel. He will keep his promise that they will leave Egypt and be free in the land of Israel.
• The land of Israel is the land of the Jews.
• You must persuade the Jews to leave.
• The Jews must organize.

Name: Aaron

You are the son of Amram and Yokheved and brother of Moses and Miriam. It pains you to see what is happening to your Jewish brothers. They have all been forced into slavery, performing hard labor for Pharaoh.

Your brother has received a mission from G-d - to lead the Jews out of Egypt to the land of Israel. You are prepared to help him any way you can. For example, your brother has a speech impediment, and you are willing to serve as his spokesman before Pharaoh.

You believe that:

• Your brother's mission will succeed.
• G-d will protect the Jewish people.
• You must promote the Exodus among the Jews and persuade them to join.
• Only peace and love can bring the Jews together.

Name: Miriam

You are the daughter of Amram and Yokheved, and sister of Moses and Aaron. It pains you to see what is happening to your Jewish brothers. They have all been forced into slavery, performing hard labor for Pharaoh.

Your brother has received a mission from G-d - to lead the Jews out of Egypt to the land of Israel. You work with your mother as a midwife, helping Jewish women give birth. You carry on with great dedication, risking your life in spite of Pharaoh's decrees.

You believe that:

• G-d will always protect the Children of Israel
• Charity protects one from death.
• The land of Israel is the land of the Jews.
• Jews must pray.

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Produced by: Unit for Jewish Education in the CIS