Leon Kass on How Exodus Created the Jewish National Narrative
Apr 17, 2025
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Leon Kass, a prominent Jewish scholar known for his insights on bioethics and the Hebrew Bible, dives into the rich narrative of the Exodus. He unpacks how this ancient story shapes Jewish identity, exploring the character of Moses, the power of collective memory, and the moral courage of women in defiance of oppression. Kass reveals the three pillars of the Exodus narrative and discusses how storytelling is crucial for identity formation. He also examines the deeper spiritual transformations that accompany the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom.
The Exodus narrative illustrates the transformation of the Israelites from victims of oppression to a unified nation with a distinct identity.
The Sinai Covenant establishes essential laws for society, underscoring moral guidelines that shape the ethical framework of the emerging nation.
The plagues served as a divine commentary on governance, highlighting the dangers of tyrannical rule while affirming God's authority over all.
Deep dives
The Structure of Exodus
The Book of Exodus consists of three main parts that define the Israeli national narrative and form the foundation of their identity. The first part addresses the enslavement and eventual deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, showcasing their struggle and resilience. The second part centers on the Sinai Covenant, where God imparts the law, including the Ten Commandments, formally structuring the social and moral guidelines for the emerging nation. The final section, often overlooked, focuses on the construction of the tabernacle, a sacred space for worship and a divine presence among the people, emphasizing the union of spirituality and societal order.
The Importance of National Identity
Understanding one's historical narrative is crucial for a nation's identity, which is shaped by shared experiences and collective memory. The Israelites, enslaved in Egypt, faced a new identity forged through victimization, which ultimately unified them against a common oppressor. Their exodus story serves as a basis for future generations to develop a cohesive national identity, guiding them toward a collective future. This narrative is a reminder of origins that not only celebrates their past but also influences their aspirations and responsibilities as a nation.
The Role of Egypt in Nation Formation
The Israelites' experience under Egyptian rule was essential for their development as a nation, providing them insights into oppression and the pitfalls of despotism. Their shared suffering under Pharaoh catalyzed a collective identity, giving them a common enemy and uniting their purpose. Additionally, the harsh realities of slavery served to strip away any remnants of their prior culture, making them a blank slate upon which a new societal structure could be inscribed. This experience of victimization ultimately helped to cultivate empathy and a sense of justice within them, preparing them for a future of ethical leadership.
The Nature of God and Pharaoh's Rule
The dynamic between God and Pharaoh highlights the contrasting approaches to power and governance, ultimately revealing the futility of tyrannical rule. Pharaoh's refusal to acknowledge the divine authority of God leads to a series of plagues that expose both the weaknesses of his regime and the need for justice and liberation. These plagues function as signs and wonders, drawing attention to God's supremacy over the Egyptian pantheon, while simultaneously weakening the regime's grip on power. Pharaoh's obstinacy not only leads to his downfall but serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and misrule.
The Transformation Through Deliverance
The Israelites' miraculous escape from Egypt through the parted sea marks a profound transformation from oppression to liberation, intertwining their identity with the divine act of deliverance. This pivotal moment emphasizes the importance of remembering their history, as the act of deliverance becomes ingrained in their collective memory and cultural practices. As they transition from slavery to nationhood, the narrative lays groundwork for ethical living and communal responsibility guided by the laws that will follow. This journey embodies the challenge of overcoming past experiences as they strive toward a future defined by autonomy and moral integrity.
This week the Jewish people is not just celebrating, but reenacting the Exodus from Egypt that our ancestors undertook many generations ago. The complex, ritualized retelling of this story can be found in the Haggadah, the text that structures the Passover’s ceremonial meal, or seder. But of course the defining telling of this story is to be found in the book of Exodus itself.
In 2021, the great Jewish thinker Leon Kass published a searching, capacious commentary on that book called Founding God’s Nation: Reading Exodus. Not long after, he sat down with Mosaic’s editor Jonathan Silver to record a video course based on his commentary, consisting of eight, roughly hour-long episodes. This week, we’re bringing you the audio version of episode two, focusing on the national narrative created in the text. The episode addresses the character of Moses, the nature of Egyptian society, the purpose of the plagues, and the essence of awe and reverence, all against the backdrop of the Exodus’s three defining components: the promulgation of a national story, a law to structure society, and an elevated national aspiration that provides the Jewish people with a mission.
You can watch the entire video course, free of charge, by enrolling here, and you also explore our other courses as well.
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