In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores the Pesach Torah reading from Parashat Bo, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the role of righteous women in sustaining the Jewish people during their oppression in Egypt.

Drawing on the Me’am Loez, Rabbi Rubenstein discusses the Pesach reading describing the plagues and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. The episode highlights the difficulty this idea created for the rabbis, since it appears to limit Pharaoh’s free will. Rabbinic interpretations address this challenge by explaining that Pharaoh repeatedly chose evil before his heart was hardened.

Turning to Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, the episode explains the laws of koshering utensils for Passover. Metal, stone, and wood vessels can be puri ...