This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shira - as we see for the first time - in the aftermath of Kriyat Yam Suf - the Jewish people join together to sing Hashem’s praises. In taking a closer look at the scene in the context of Bnei Yisrael’s journey, we will hopefully gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of Kriyat Yam Suf at the time, as well as the lasting lesson that we learn from one of the most memorable events in Jewish history.
The parsha opens with seemingly arbitrary introduction, in which the Torah relates that Hashem led the Jews on a specific path in order to avoid an encounter with the Philistine nation, lest the people reconsider when they see war and return to Egypt (Ex. 13:17).
At first glance it would seem these words come to show the lengths Hashem went to protect the still vulnerable, recently liberated Jewish people from a potential battle. And yet, just several verses later we learn that the Jews would face the people they feared the most of all when Hashem tells Moshe: And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them (Ex. 14:4).
From the contrast of these two verses, we see how imperative it was that the Jews face the Egyptian army one last time before moving forward in their journey towards becoming the nation they were destined to be. We must try to understand what this lesson was– a lesson that they evidently could not have learned in battling any other nation – perhaps a lesson they had to learn before they were capable of battling another nation.
The Chizkuni, among others, points out that the Jews did not actually need to get to the other side of the Yam Suf to continue on their path. According to these commentaries, the Jews traveled through the waters in a semi-circle, landing in the very same spot that they first entered the stormy waters. Accordingly, Chazal explain that the purpose of the entire episode of the sea splitting was in order that the Jews witness the final downfall of the Egyptians.
From this perspective we learn an important lesson about how we, too, can progress in our own personal life journeys. At times the fear of the unknown is enough to paralyze us, or even to force us to turn back to a past that might have been bitter and painful – but in some ways comfortable in its predictability. Rav DovBear Pinson explains that this is how we can understand the seemingly delusional statements of the Jewish people that they would have preferred to remain in Egypt. Immediately after leaving Egypt, the fear of the unknown future plagued the Jewish people – knowing they could turn back, they would do so rather than try to tackle a new challenge.
When the Jews saw Pharaoh and his army go down, they realized for the first time that going back to Egypt, to their past, would no longer be possible. This is what Moshe assures the people, as he tells them to strengthen themselves with the understanding that they will never see the Egyptians ever again:
Don't be afraid! Stand firm and see the Lord's salvation that He will wreak for you today, for the way you have seen the Egyptians is [only] today, [but] you shall no longer continue to see them for eternity (Ex. 13:13).
With these encouraging words, along with the witnessing of the Egyptians drowning at sea, the Jewish people realized that a chapter in their lives was officially concluded. It was only after this realization that they were moved them to break out in song – to rejoice in the present and to feel excitement for the future – to look ahead rather than retreat back.
With this insight we can also explain why after so many miracles they witnessed, it was this event that affected them most deeply. The song is filled predominantly with imagery of the Egyptians drowning at sea - highlighting that it was not the miraculous divide of the waters, but the obliteration of Pharaoh and his army, that had the most lasting and impacting affect on the people.
Either as an individual or as a nation, there is a balance we must strike - to be able to learn lessons by looking back at our past – without dwelling in it. The Jewish people did not erase their past from memory, in fact it was only when they recognized these events as part of their past - part of a memory of what was but no longer is - that they could move forward. In one of the final verses they call out: The Lord will reign to all eternity (Ex. 15:18). The ability to reflect on the past is what gave them a renewed spirit to rejoice and to find hope in the future and the strength to face what lay ahead.
The greatest challenge of all, perhaps, is to hold on to the moments of clarity, inspiration, and excitement that move us to push ourselves beyond our comfort levels. Indeed as the Jews continue on their journey, there are many more moments of doubt and looking back at what was (for example, see Ex. 16:3). Even the generation that witnessed such high levels of Divine revelation struggled to hold on to these most inspiring experiences to make lasting changes in their lives.
So too in our own lives we feel a sense of complacency in the status quo; the moments of motivation and confidence in our abilities to take leaps forward are often fleeting. Perhaps the best way to hold on to those passing thoughts and feelings is to let our past successes instill a sense confidence in ourselves and to solidify our faith that Hashem will continue to be with us as we try to push forward in our own personal journeys of self-discovery and growth. It is the belief both in ourselves and in Hashem' guidance that will allow the excitement of a yet discovered future to overcome our fear of the unknown terrain that lies ahead.
This coming Wednesday is Tu B’Shvat – the celebration the blossoming of the trees in Eretz Yisrael. The Torah tells us: For man is like the tree of the field (Deut. 20:29). We must recognize this is a time of renewal and possibility in our own lives. Rav Goldwicht notes that the celebration of the trees seems premature – as we would expect to celebrate in the springtime when the trees are finally baring fruit. And yet, the celebration is now – as this juncture when the seeds are planted but the trees are still far from reaching their fullest potential. We know the only way for the tree to reach its greatest heights is if it is well grounded and it is given constant care and attention. Perhaps what we are really celebrating is the confidence and the trust that our constant hard work now will prove to be fruitful in the future.
Although the progress cannot be seen on a daily basis, there is an underlying faith that the work of the farmer will pay off, which moves him to keep tending to the plant day after day. So too in our lives, we must be rooted in our past – letting the lessons of our past guide us – but we must let our visions of our future move us to be constantly and consistently working on ourselves in order to reach that highest potential. May we all find the inner strength, confidence, and faith to be able to grow upward and go forward always!
SHABBAT SHALOM, Taly
