Hardening and softening hearts:
      There is an often overlooked similarity between Pharaoh and Moses. The word heavy or hard (kaveid) is used as a physical description of both of them. Repeatedly we are told that Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites go despite the plagues. At times, the text says God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, which raises disturbing questions about human free will. When God tells Moses at the burning bush to return to Egypt to free the Israelites, Moses describes himself as heavy of speech and heavy of tongue (Ex. 4:10). He has trouble speaking, and suggests that he is the wrong choice to be God’s spokesperson. While the meaning of the “heaviness” is not completely clear, it suggests that a hardened heart or a heavy tongue prevents someone from acting as he might wish. The meaning of the root KVD has two connotations-- heavy and honor. From Genesis until the Exodus from Egypt, the connotation of heaviness dominates the usage in the biblical text. In fact, the word heavy is a motif in the story of the Exodus. Strikingly, the two antagonists in the story, Pharaoh and Moses are described using that word. A number of the plagues are described as heavy or severe.
    The word heavy is used one last time in the Exodus story (Ex. 14:25). After the Israelites cross the miraculously parted sea, the Egyptians try to follow. God restores the waters of the sea while the Egyptians are trying to cross. The verse says: God made it so the wheels of the Egyptian chariots moved forward with difficulty (lit. heavily—keveidut).  At this moment of transition to freedom, there is a switch in language. From here on in the Torah, the word heavy rarely appears in the text. Instead the word kavod—honor-- becomes central. Kavod is that which is heavy, serious, and thereby deserving of respect.
    The shift from heaviness to honor/glory is the foundation of the revelation at Mount Sinai. One of the central principles of the Torah to be revealed at Sinai is honor. One of God’s name is kavod/honor. One of the Ten Commandments tells us to honor our parents (Ex. 20:12). The clouds of glory that will lead the Israelites throughout the desert journey are images of lightness not heaviness. Yet because God’s glory is concealed within the clouds, they represent that which is deserving of honor.
    This shift from burdensome and oppressive to images of lightness, glory and respect are fundamental to understanding Judaism. It is difficult to honor and respect if you are enslaved. Therefore, it seems appropriate to refer to God’s glory once the Israelites are set free. This hope for kavod recognition, respect and dignity is to be embodied in the Torah of Sinai. Thus, respecting God’s creatures (kavod ha-beriot) is a fundamental principle of Judaism. The most frequently repeated imperative in the Torah is to remember we were strangers in the land of Egypt and therefore treat with respect and generosity all those who are on the margins of society. It reminds us that we can move from being hard hearted and feeling stuck or overwhelmed to freely embracing a world of respect.