Parshas Shemos begins with the death of Joseph and the enslavement of the Jewish People.

As the older generation (Joseph and his brothers) passes away, the Jews begin to assimilate into Egyptian society. Pharaoh uses the growing influence of the Jews to incite the Egyptians, for he is afraid of the “Jewish Problem.” "The Jews will overwhelm us, join our enemies and expel us from our land," he warns. "We must enslave them to protect our own freedom."

When Pharaoh’s stargazers warn him of the imminent birth of a powerful Jewish leader, he orders every newborn Jewish male killed. The heroic Jewish midwives do not obey his decree, and Moses is born. Unable to hide Moses at home, his mother places him in a waterproof basket in the Nile River. Pharaoh's daughter finds Moses and raises him as a prince in the royal palace.

One day Moses goes out to observe the plight of the enslaved Jews.  Seeing an Egyptian beating a Jew, Moses kills the Egyptian; word gets back to Pharaoh and Moses is forced to flee to Midyan.

In Midyan, G-d appears to Moses in a burning bush and asks him to lead the Jewish People to freedom. Moses demurs, claiming that he cannot speak well and the Jewish People will not believe in him. Expressing anger, G-d appoints Aaron, Moshe's older brother, to be his spokesman and empowers Moses to perform miracles to prove his authenticity.

Moses and Aaron travel to Egypt. Together they encounter Pharaoh, who not only denies their request for a three-day Jewish holiday in the desert, but makes the slaves' workload harder. The portion concludes with the Jewish People angry at Moses and Aaron for worsening their plight, and G-d promising Moses that He will indeed lead the Jewish People to freedom.