| March 23, 2009 The Ten Plagues: An Illustrated Story for Children By Lili Furman, texts & Pepe Fainberg, Illustrations
The story of the plagues suggests that if the Pharaoh had acted differently, the punishments would have been cut short: nine times he had the opportunity to end the divine punishment, nine times he refused. This means that man too can change the course of events, if he is willing. And this is also an important theological message. The paradox of Hakol katuv me rosh, aval hareshut netuna, “everything is written in advance, but man is free,” is understood as meaning that although G-d is omnipotent, man has enormous power over his own destiny, and for that purpose he relies on moral and religious resources. | |