“Come to Pharaoh”

The Zohar teaches that Moshe was afraid of Pharaoh. So afraid, in fact, that he hesitated to confront him again and demand the freedom of the Jewish people. Pharaoh’s power was not merely political, it reflected something deeper, a force rooted in the spiritual realms themselves. Moshe understood that standing up to Pharaoh meant more than a conversation; it meant challenging an entire system and reshaping reality. That is a frightening thing to do.

Each of us has our own Pharaoh. Our own Egypt. The limitations, fears, habits, and inner struggles that confine us. The personal flaws that need repair. So often, we are afraid to walk forward with our heads held high, to make the hard changes required to truly leave Egypt.

Then G-d says something remarkable: “Come to Pharaoh.”
Not go, but come. As if G-d is saying: Come with Me. We will face this together. Do not be afraid.

This idea feels especially close to us as Australians on a National Day of Mourning. On this day, we hold two truths at once. On one hand, we mourn—deeply—the lives taken in the Bondi attack, the pain that shook our sense of safety, the fear that entered our streets and our hearts. On the other hand, we refuse to have fear from Pharaoh.

Mourning in Judaism is never passive. We grieve the past, but we also commit ourselves to shaping a better future. We walk forward with purpose, growth, and resolve.

When the goal is real change positive, meaningful change, no matter how difficult the message is clear: we are not alone. G-d walks with us. And we are given the strength to confront our Pharaohs, to break our limitations, and to step out of Egypt.

Its not always easy, the invitation remains: Come. Let us go together.

Here are fifteen mitzvot have been suggested across Australia, to all Australians, one for each of the fifteen precious lives lost in the Bondi attack. These are not grand gestures. They are acts of courage. They are how we answer fear with goodness, loss with life, and paralysis with movement. Each mitzvah is a small step out of Egypt.

Fifteen Mitzvot of Life and Hope
1. Give to others – donate to organisations that serve those in need.
2. Uplift the sick – visit or support someone who is unwell.
3. Help those who raised you – assist a parent or elderly relative.
4. Open your home – practice hospitality in a new way.
5. Travel with care – help those needing transport; treat the roads and drivers with respect.
6. Prioritise family – dedicate the first hour of your evening to family, screen-free.
7. Gratitude first – begin your day with thanks for the good around you.
8. Act with intent – pause for a moment of silence before beginning a task.
9. Kindness to animals – care for your pets before caring for yourself.
10. Work with integrity – honour the time and commitments you have made.
11. Warmth and positivity – greet others with a smile and genuine presence.
12. Cherish loved ones – remind your partner and friends how grateful you are for them.
13. Prayer for healing – pray for the physical and spiritual recovery of the victims.
14. Teach children goodness – read stories that show them the good in the world.
15. Legacy of life – empower the next generation to carry forward hope, not fear.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Zalman and Esty