Parshat Bo marks a turning point in the story of Bnei Yisrael. Up until now, our identity has largely been shaped by suffering. We are known as slaves, as an oppressed people defined by what is done to us. But in Parshat Bo, something shifts. Before the Israelites are physically freed from Egypt, God begins to redefine who they are.

The first commandment given to the Jewish people is not about belief or morality, but about time: “This month shall be for you the first of the months.” God gives Bnei Yisrael control over the calendar. For the first time, they are no longer living according to Pharaoh’s schedule, but according to their own. Identity begins when you are able to define your own time, priorities, and rhythm of life. Immediately after, God commands the Israelites to mark their doorposts with blood and to gather inside their homes to eat the korban Pesach. Freedom doesn’t begin in the public square, it begins in private spaces. Inside the home. Inside the family. Identity is not only something we declare outwardly; it’s something we practice inwardly.

Parshat Bo also places huge emphasis on storytelling. Over and over again, the Torah tells us that we must explain the Exodus to our children: “And you shall tell your child on that day…” Our identity as Jews is inseparable from the stories we choose to retell. We are not just a people who were freed: we are a people who remember being freed, and who pass that memory on intentionally.

For me, this hits especially close to home. My Jewish identity hasn’t come from one defining moment, but from repeated experiences; Shabbat tables, conversations, traditions, and communities that remind me who I am. In spaces like BBYO, I’ve learned that identity isn’t something you “have figured out” all at once; it’s something you actively build by showing up, asking questions, and choosing to belong. Just like Bnei Yisrael in Parshat Bo, I didn’t wait for everything to be clear before claiming my place, I stepped into it while still learning.

What’s powerful is that all of this happens before the sea splits, before the miracles reach their peak. The Torah is teaching us that identity does not wait for perfect freedom or ideal conditions. It is built even in moments of uncertainty, while standing on the edge of the unknown.

Parshat Bo asks us: Who gets to define our identity? Outside forces or us? Like the Israelites, we are strongest when we take ownership of our time, our stories, and our community. Jewish identity is not something imposed on us. It is something we choose, shape, and carry forward.

Shabbat Shalom,

Maya Sahar, BBYO Spain