Pardes from Jerusalem
Pardes from Jerusalem
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Bo 5786: Redemption and Repair
41 minutes Posted Jan 18, 2026 at 12:30 pm.
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Show notes
Does true redemption include repair for those who caused harm?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore Parshat Bo through a troubling command: the Israelites’ request for silver and gold from the Egyptians. They unpack why this moment feels ethically uncomfortable and trace how classical commentators—from Ibn Ezra to the Malbim—reframe it not as exploitation, but as justice, dignity, and even reparative healing. Drawing connections to modern debates about reparations, guilt, and responsibility, the conversation asks how redemption can include moral repair for both the oppressed and the oppressor.