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The Splitting of the Sea of Reeds : Beshelach

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muman613:
This week we read the Parasha of Beshalach which relates the incredible story of the splitting of the Sea of Reeds.

The Jewish people were cornered against the sea by the massive chariot army of Paroah. The people were divided and did not know what to do. The righteous Nachshon waded into the sea up to his nostrils and then the sea split. There are so many deep midrashim on this incredible Parasha. The incredible 'yad hashem' which the entire nation witnessed as the waters were heaped up leaving dry seabed for them to walk on. The Jewish understanding of how the sea split is vastly different than what the 'Ten Commandment' movies portray. It is said that there were actually twelve channels cut into the sea, and they entered on one side and exited on the same side.

Here is a good shuir by Rabbi Richman of the Temple Institute discussing many of these ideas:



The song of the sea which we sing every day in our davening in order to recall the Yetzirat Mitzrayim/Leaving Egypt is awesome. It relates the awesome experience that the Children of Israel witnessed that day..

Here is the translation according to Chabad of the Song:

Chapter 15

1. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and they spoke, saying, I will sing to the Lord, for very exalted is He; a horse and its rider He cast into the sea.

2. The Eternal's strength and His vengeance were my salvation; this is my G-d, and I will make Him a habitation, the G-d of my father, and I will ascribe to Him exaltation.

3. The Lord is a Master of war; the Lord is His Name.

4. Pharaoh's chariots and his army He cast into the sea, and the elite of his officers sank in the Red Sea.

5. The depths covered them; they descended into the depths like a stone.

6. Your right hand, O Lord, is most powerful; Your right hand, O Lord, crushes the foe.

7. And with Your great pride You tear down those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning wrath; it devours them like straw.

8. And with the breath of Your nostrils the waters were heaped up; the running water stood erect like a wall; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

9. [Because] the enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will share the booty; my desire will be filled from them; I will draw my sword, my hand will impoverish them.

10. You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the powerful waters.

11. Who is like You among the powerful, O Lord? Who is like You, powerful in the holy place? Too awesome for praises, performing wonders!

12. You inclined Your right hand; the earth swallowed them up.

13. With Your loving kindness You led the people You redeemed; You led [them] with Your might to Your holy abode.

14. People heard, they trembled; a shudder seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

15. Then the chieftains of Edom were startled; [as for] the powerful men of Moab, trembling seized them; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted.

16. May dread and fright fall upon them; with the arm of Your greatness may they become as still as a stone, until Your people cross over, O Lord, until this nation that You have acquired crosses over.

17. You shall bring them and plant them on the mount of Your heritage, directed toward Your habitation, which You made, O Lord; the sanctuary, O Lord, [which] Your hands founded.

18. The Lord will reign to all eternity

19. When Pharaoh's horses came with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought the waters of the sea back upon them, and the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea,

20. Miriam, the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women came out after her with timbrels and with dances.

21. And Miriam called out to them, Sing to the Lord, for very exalted is He; a horse and its rider He cast into the sea


See what I wrote about this last year:

http://jtf.org/forum/index.php/topic,52355.0.html

muman613:

muman613:
The refrain in the song 'Mi Chamocha Balim Hashem' is sung during the davening {at least in my minyan}. I have not been able to find the niggun which we use though...

Here is Shlomo Carlebach singing it..



Who is like You among the powerful, O Lord? Who is like You, powerful in the holy place? Too awesome for praises, performing wonders!

Actually Chabad has the niggun we use:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/692812/jewish/37-Mi-Chamocha-Song.htm

muman613:

muman613:
Regarding the story of Nachshon :

http://www.aish.com/tp/b/sw/Jump_Into_the_Sea.html

One Giant Leap

Three million Jews are standing at the shores of the Red Sea. Their options are either to go forward into the un-split sea, or back to Egypt. The sea is cold, strange and foreboding. Egypt is warm, familiar and comfortable.

The Egyptians are thundering closer. The Jews are panicked. And then Nachshon, from the tribe of Yehuda, steps foot into the sea. (The original "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.") But the sea still does not split. Nachshon continues as the water reaches his ankles, then up to his knees. Still no split. Nachshon forges deeper: Up to his waist, his chest. Still no split.

Nachshon's mind races: Maybe we should return to Egypt. Then he reminds himself: Life is about growing ... leaving the place of confinement behind... moving forward into the unknown ... But the alternative ― to stay in our small space of warmth and comfort, is to choose stagnation and, ultimately, death. Egypt, Nachshon knew, was no option at all.

By now the water has reached his neck. Nachshon is being challenged to his limit. Yet he continues into the sea. As the water reaches his nostrils, at this last possible moment... the Red Sea splits. The Jewish People all rush in after him. Finally, freedom.

Self Esteem

Although every Jew passed through on dry land, the experience of Nachshon was qualitatively different. When Nachshon walked through the sea, he was alive and invigorated. The future had issued its challenge, and Nachshon confronted it head-on. Slavery was baggage he'd left behind. He was liberated, both body and soul.

Contrast this to the experience of the rest of the Jewish People. The others, having entered only after the sea split, were in one sense disappointed in themselves for not having the bravery of Nachshon. Nachshon "entered the water first" (Exodus 14:22); the others "entered first on dry land" (14:29).

The Gaon of Vilna (18th century Europe) offers a beautiful insight: In describing the experience of Nachshon, the Torah says "and the water formed a wall" (Exodus 14:22). But for the rest of the people, the Hebrew word for wall, "choma," is spelled peculiarly ― without a Vav. This can be read "Chaima," meaning anger. The Torah is reflecting each Jews' disappointment (and God's "anger") for not having had the courage to fulfill their own potential. The growth opportunity had been lost forever.

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