Our story begins in ancient Egypt, where the Israelites are flourishing, a little too flourishing for the liking of the Pharaoh. He sees their growing numbers as a threat, and so, he makes a terrible decree.

As we read in Exodus 1:15, "The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shifra and the name of the other was Pu’a..." The Pharaoh, noticing the Israelites are procreating, issues a second decree, this one aimed directly at the newborn males. But who were these midwives?

The Talmudic sages offer different perspectives. Rav says they were a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law: Yokheved and Elisheva, daughter of Aminadav. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, however, suggests it was a woman and her daughter: Yokheved and Miriam. And get this, according to this account, Miriam was only about five years old! How could a child play such a pivotal role?

Well, Midrash Rabbah explains that even at a young age, Miriam assisted her mother, Yokheved, and she was remarkably quick and capable. "While the child is still young, his [character] is recognizable," as King Solomon wisely said in Proverbs 20:11. Even a lad is recognized through his deeds.

But what about their names, Shifra and Pu'a? What do they signify? The Rabbis offer a beautiful tapestry of interpretations. Shifra, we are told, comes from the word meshaperet, meaning "to attend to." She would care for the baby, cleaning them after birth. Pu'a, on the other hand, derives from nofa’at, meaning "to express," as she would give the newborns wine after her mother had cared for them.

Another interpretation suggests that Shifra earned her name because Israel sheparu veravu – procreated abundantly – in her day. Pu'a was called so because she would mapia – revive – babies thought to be dead.

Still another interpretation, Shifra, is said to have made her actions pleasing (shipera) before God, while Pu'a caused Israel to appear (hofia) before God.

And then there's this: Pu'a, according to another understanding, was impudent (hofia panim) towards Pharaoh himself! Can you imagine? She stood before him, nose in the air, and dared to say, "Woe unto that man when God will come and punish him!" Pharaoh, understandably, was furious and wanted to kill her. But Shifra, in this telling, smoothed things over, easing (meshaperet) the situation, and placating the Pharaoh by convincing him Pu'a was just a child who knew nothing.

Rabbi Ḥanina bar Rav Yitzḥak adds another layer: Shifra preserved Israel for God, and it was for their sake that the heavens were created, regarding which it is written: “By his wind the heavens are calm [shifra]” (Job 26:13).

But the most striking story is the one about Pu'a's impudence (hofia panim) towards her own father, Amram. Amram, who was the head of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) at the time, witnessed Pharaoh's terrible decree to cast all newborn male children into the Nile. In despair, he declared, "Isn’t Israel begetting children for naught?"

He then separated from his wife, Yokheved, abstaining from marital relations. In fact, he divorced her when she was three months pregnant! And tragically, all of Israel followed suit, divorcing their wives.

But Pu'a, his own daughter, challenged him. She said, "Your decree is harsher than Pharaoh’s! Pharaoh decreed only against the males, but you, against the males and the females. Pharaoh is wicked, and it is uncertain whether his decree will be fulfilled or not. However, you are righteous, and your decree will be fulfilled!"

Her words cut through the despair. Amram realized the truth in her words. He arose and remarried Yokheved. And in turn, all of Israel followed suit, remarrying their wives. This, we are told, is the ultimate act of defiance that defines Pu'a – her courage to stand up to her own father for the sake of the Jewish people.

So, what do we take away from this intricate Midrash? It's more than just a story about midwives. It's a testament to the power of courage, even in the face of overwhelming oppression. It's a reminder that even the smallest among us, like young Miriam, can play a monumental role in shaping history. And it's a powerful lesson about the importance of challenging even our leaders when we believe they are wrong. Shifra and Pu'a – their names, their actions, their defiance – continue to resonate with us today, inspiring us to stand up for what is right, even when it seems impossible.