Parashat Beshalach – Shabbat Shira

Parashat Beshalach Shabbat Shira 5786 transcript.pdf

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Introduction

Good morning, everyone. I want to send you some food for thought a little earlier today, in honor of the wedding of our dear grandson Yitzchok, iy”H. May we always be able to share simchas.

This is a special Shabbos this week—Shabbat Shira—and we each have our personal shira, a song of thanks to give to Hashem. Of course, I am giving this as an lilui nishmas Rav Shlomo ben Rav Yitzchok.

It is also a very special moment, because we know that at the time of a chuppah, all the parents, grandparents, the deceased relatives—everyone comes down to celebrate with us. At that moment, we feel their presence more than ever.

The Significance of Shabbat Shira

When we speak about Shabbat Shira, a question is asked: At the time of makat bechorot, when Hakadosh Baruch Hu killed all the firstborn, Bnei Yisrael had already eaten the Korban Pesach and knew they were about to leave. How come they didn’t say shira then?

They did say Hallel that night, but how come they didn’t say a special song of gratitude—a full shira?

We see that Shira is said only when the salvation is complete. When they were leaving Mitzrayim, Paro was rushing them out. They had to leave as fast as possible. At that point, since they were still on a low spiritual level—even though they had done brit milah and Korban Pesach—they might have thought that part of what was happening was natural. Paro was afraid; he wanted them gone.

They had not yet reached the level where they saw with absolute certainty that everything came from Above.

But when they crossed the Yam Suf, at first they wondered: perhaps the Egyptians would cross just as they did. Then Hashem made an even greater miracle—the sea rejected the bodies, so they could see that all the Egyptians had died.

Not only that: when they saw the Egyptians drowning, they remembered Paro’s decree—kol haben hayelod, every baby boy thrown into the river. They saw middah keneged middah, exact justice. Only then did they fully grasp hashgachat Hashem.

At that moment, they understood that everything—the suffering, the slavery, the ups and downs, even the 80% who did not leave Mitzrayim—had one purpose: the geulah, so that Am Yisrael could receive the Torah.

The Beauty of a Song

My father, zt”l, used to say: What makes a song beautiful? If all the notes were the same—one constant sound—there would be no beauty.

The beauty of a song is that the notes rise and fall, go up and go down, yet all form one harmony. That is exactly what happened at the moment of geulah.

Az yashir Moshe. At that moment, Moshe Rabbeinu said: now we understand. Now is the time to put all our feelings into a shira.

Moshe said: I was the one who said “me’az bati el Paro, hara la’am hazeh.” I had doubts. I could not understand why things were getting worse. But now I see the full plan of Hashem—how everything was prepared for our benefit.

Everyone Sang

Chazal teach that at that moment, everyone sang: men, women, children, servants—even unborn babies in their mothers’ wombs.

The heavens opened. They reached an extraordinary level of prophecy. They saw the Kisei HaKavod with the surrounding angels. That is shira—praising Hashem from the depth of the heart.

The Midrash says this is not only a song of the past. This is Az Yashir—a song we will sing again at Techiyat HaMeitim, when Mashiach comes.

The Meaning of the Words of Shira

We say: Ashira laHashem ki ga’oh ga’ah—Hashem showed His absolute strength, above all powers.

Chazal note that ga’oh has the numerical value of nine. Ga’oh ga’ah equals eighteen. Including Miriam’s shira—Ashira laHashem ki ga’oh ga’ah sus v’rochvo ramah bayam—we reach nineteen.

From here, Chazal learned that the daily prayer should have eighteen berachot, corresponding to Kriyat Yam Suf. Later, Velamalshinim was added, making nineteen.

Three times a day, we remember Kriyat Yam Suf—to strengthen our tefillah.

Tu BiShvat – Nes and Teva

Shabbat Shira always coincides with Tu BiShvat.

Shira represents open miracles. Tu BiShvat represents daily miracles—nature.

Rav Dessler, zt”l, explains: there is no difference between nes and teva. A miracle that happens once amazes us. Nature happens daily, so we overlook it.

A seed rots in the ground and grows into fruit—this is a miracle.

When we celebrate the rebirth of nature, we must remember it is also shira—thanking Hashem for constant miracles.

Kriyat Yam Suf and Life Challenges

Chazal compare Kriyat Yam Suf to two things:

• Making a shidduch

• Earning a livelihood

Is anything difficult for Hashem? No. But at Yam Suf, Am Yisrael realized there was no natural solution.

Nachshon ben Aminadav jumped into the water. The Midrash says Binyamin first advanced, and Nachshon followed until the water reached his nose—then the sea split.

The lesson: when it comes to shidduchim and parnassah, we think it depends on connections, money, or luck. But meHashem yatza hadavar.

It is hard for a person with money in the bank to believe everything depends on Hashem—but that is the truth.

Miriam’s Shira – Horses and Chariots

Why does Miriam sing sus v’rochvo?

The Midrash explains: the waters argued that men deserved the miracle because they would receive the Torah. Miriam responded: a chariot goes nowhere without the horse.

Women are the driving force. They gave strength, encouragement, and faith. Just as horses led chariots, women carried Am Yisrael forward.

The Desert and the Mann

In the desert, challenges began: bitter water, hunger, complaints.

Lo nitnah Torah ela l’ochlei haman.

The mann taught emunah. Every night, there was nothing. They had to trust Hashem daily.

The letters of man spell emunah.

If someone sinned, the mann fell far away. It demanded spiritual growth.

Hashem was teaching: whatever you need—just ask.

Amalek – A Test of Emunah

Amalek creates doubt.

Vayehi yadav emunah—everything is emunah.

Tu BiShvat and Perek Shira

In Perek Shira, even trees, grass, and plants sing.

There are billions of blades of grass—no two alike. Hashem cares for every individual.

Mi’ma’amakim karaticha Hashem—from the depths, call out.

Darkness precedes growth. Seeds rot before they sprout.

Cover yourself with humility, pour out your heart before Hashem, and He will help you.

Story and Conclusion

The story of the young man saved in court teaches us:

Sometimes the judge looks angry. The case looks hopeless.

But the Judge is also our Father.

Hashem wants only to give us simcha, blessing, and light—even from darkness.

May we only share simchas. Have a wonderful Shabbos. All my love from Yerushalayim.