How do modern Jews understand the exodus?

Answer 1

It is unclear what is meant by "Modern Judaism", since all major forms of Judaism still exist in the modern age. If by "Modern Judaism" the question refers to "Liberal Judaism", please see Section A. If by "Modern Judaism" the question refers to "Torah Judaism" or "Modern Orthodoxy", please see Section B.

Section A: Liberal Judaism

Different strains of Liberal Judaism see the events as more or less ahistorical, but this represents the idea of the formation of the Jewish people. The origin-stories of most nations of peoples start with some great battle where they broke free of the yoke of some more-powerful tyrant or when the first settlers of an area joined together in mutual defense or brotherhood. The Jewish origin story does not start with the Jews having power, but rather being emancipated slaves and their emancipation came from Divine Power, a third party, rather than their own. In this is the clear message that a Jew is a member of the minorities and the "less-well received classes". Many Liberal Jews see this as fostering the Jewish requirement to stand by other tortured and abused minorities as opposed to being an imperialist power.

The exodus also represents a moment of union for the Jewish People who were receiving one law at one time. This establishes a historical connection between all Jews and fosters the idea of Judensvolk or the idea that all Jews are part of a singular ethnicity or group. Unlike most other modern religions (Christianity, Buddhism, etc.), Jews feel a worldwide kinship with all of their brothers and sisters that mirrors other ethnicities (like Hungarians, Arabs, etc.). However, unlike the modern period, where Jews are scattered in numerous different countries there was also a physical union.

Finally, the Exodus represents the prelude to receiving the Ten Commandments which were delivered to the entire people as opposed to a singular prophet. This means that the Jewish obligations to uphold morality in the world are binding on every Jew to enforce and perform. Unlike some other religions, where the faith was revealed to just one individual and therefore that individual decides morality, the Jews as a community need to arrive at moral decisions through discussions and guidance. Every Jew has the same connection to the law and the same access to the law because they all spiritually descend from someone who "in the narrative" stood at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Section B: Torah Judaism or Modern Orthodoxy

Jewish tradition states that the Exodus was an actual event, as described by the Torah (Exodus, chapters 1-14). We understand the Exodus as being part of God's fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham (Genesis ch.15). The Exodus transformed us from a people to a distinct nation, tied to God through gratitude.