Parshas Beshalach (Parshas Shira) Defying Logic

Good morning, everyone.

I'm sending you this weekly message in memory of Binyamin ben Yehoshua, who passed away this week. He was a person of extraordinary integrity, exceptional generosity, and a true role model of humility, for everything he did was with such grace. May his neshama (soul) have an Aliyah (elevation), and may he be a source of merit for his entire family. He will undoubtedly remain an inspiring role model for all of us.

I'm also sending this message in memory of Reisel Rachel bas Shmuel. On a happier note, I'm delighted to share a family simcha (joyous occasion): the birth of a great-granddaughter in Curaçao. May she be a source of nachas (joy and pride) for the whole family.

The Connection Between the Extraordinary and the Ordinary

Parashat Beshalach is known as Parashat Shira (the Portion of Song) because we read Shirat HaYam (the Song of the Sea). This always coincides with Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for Trees. Shirat HaYam is the song of the extraordinary, of miraculous events, while Tu B'Shvat, on the contrary, marks the awakening of nature in Eretz Yisrael as trees begin blossoming again. Even though it's very rainy now, these are the much-needed gishmei bracha (rains of blessing) that Hashem is sending.

The extraordinary, miraculous events and the ordinary events of daily life are very closely connected, as we shall see.

Defying Logic: Hashem's Hidden Hand

As we read this Parasha, leading up to the splitting of Yam Suph, we observe that all events seem to defy logic. We wonder why:

• The Route to Eretz Yisrael: The Torah tells us Hashem could have led them directly to Eretz Yisrael through Gaza, along the seashore—the shortest route, allowing them to reach the land within three days. Instead, Hashem deliberately takes them southward, towards the desert. Why go against logic and choose a longer, more arduous path?

• Turning Backwards: As they advance southward, Hashem instructs Moshe Rabbeinu, "Turn back and encamp by the seashore." Instead of fleeing further into the desert, they were made to backtrack, seemingly towards danger.

• Bitter Waters of Marah: Upon reaching the desert, they arrive at a place called Marah, where the water is bitter. After witnessing such immense miracles, why bring them to a place with undrinkable water, prompting complaints?

• The Attack of Amalek: When all other nations were logically afraid to attack Am Yisrael after the Red Sea miracle, Amalek brazenly comes and attacks. We wonder why this unexpected event occurred.

The Torah is sending us a very clear message: Hashem changes the ordinary course of events to deliver a message of emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust). Hashem tells us, "You might think you would have planned things differently, but there will be miracles, moments of great revelation."

• There was Kriyat Yam Suph—the entire world heard about this exceptional miracle, as waters globally split.

• When Amalek attacked, Moshe Rabbeinu stood on the mountain with his hands raised, demonstrating another exceptional miracle of how Am Yisrael overcame a very strong army.

Why does Hakadosh Baruch Hu orchestrate all this? We see, for example, events that defy logic: Pharaoh leaves Egypt and pursues them into the desert, taking his entire army and all remaining gold and silver. This seems strange, but Hashem is showing us a clear message: "You think things are working against you? I'm going to teach you a lesson. Trust Me. Whatever I do, I'm doing for your benefit."

Beyond Spectacle: The Power of Transformation

As the Rambam says, miracles (extraordinary events) alone do not have the power to transform a person's personality or character. The Midrash says that when the sea split, not only the sea opened, but all seven layers of the atmosphere split open. Whoever looked up to heaven saw tremendous spiritual revelation. Even the "Tashifah al HaYam," a plain servant girl, saw prophetic revelations that even the Prophet Yechezkel did not manage to see (and Yechezkel provided a precise description of his own heavenly vision!).

Yet, we say, "Zeh Keli v'Anvehu" (This is my G-d, and I will beautify Him). When Am Yisrael crossed Yam Suph, they proclaimed, "This is our G-d! We saw Him!" They saw the divine thrones surrounded by angels and the four powers of the world (lion, eagle, ox, man), representing all the powers that dominate the world. These were tremendous revelations, given to humankind perhaps only once in history.

However, a plain servant simply witnessing something, merely looking and seeing, will not transform a person's character (midot) to make them better, to elevate themselves. This demands a much harder investment and much harder work. We have to work on ourselves.

Lessons from the Desert: Manna and Mitzvot

This is why we read about the story of the Manna, which was given to Am Yisrael for 40 years. When they crossed Yam Suph, Pharaoh, as I mentioned, took all his wealth with him. This was for the benefit of Am Yisrael: when the sea rejected all the carriages and dead bodies, it also brought up all the gold and silver. What they collected at Yam Suph was far more than all the wealth they took out of Egypt.

Why did Hakadosh Baruch Hu make them rich in such a way? He could have simply deposited trunks of gold and silver in their homes when they left Egypt. Why did they have to stand on the shore of the Red Sea and meticulously pick up and collect all the gold and silver?

Our Sages tell us that Hashem was giving them a profound lesson:

• He said, "Look at your desire for money! Everyone was collecting—families, adults, children. When it was time to leave, they begged Moshe Rabbeinu, 'Let us stay a bit longer; there's still silver and gold left!'"

• Hashem was telling them, "Look how great your desire for material wealth is. I now want to give you My Torah. Your craving for Torah must be far, far above whatever you desire materially. Gold and silver are nothing compared to your desire for Torah."

Hashem was constantly giving them lessons.

What else do we see? They leave Yam Suph and Hakadosh Baruch Hu takes them into the desert. For three days there was no water. We wonder, "What's going on? They just had such miracles! Why can't the miracles continue? Let the fountains sprout forth!"

They come to Marah, and the waters are bitter. They start complaining, "Come on! You just saw such tremendous revelations and gained all this wealth at the sea, and now you're complaining?" Hakadosh Baruch Hu is teaching them a lesson:

• Life isn't always about extraordinary, miraculous events.

• There are moments of challenge, times when things feel bitter, difficult, and dark, and you say, "This isn't enjoyable at all."

• Hashem says, "Even when things seem as bitter as can be, call out to Hashem—pray!"

• From bitterness can sprout the sweetest water.

This is exactly what happened in Marah. Hakadosh Baruch Hu didn't tell Moshe Rabbeinu the waters would become sweet. He told him to take an extremely bitter branch (there are various opinions on what this branch was) and throw it into the water. Everyone watched, thinking, "What is Moshe doing? He's adding even more bitterness!" But from this bitter branch, the waters became as sweet as ever.

Hakadosh Baruch Hu was teaching them: "I want you to take this lesson with you into the desert. Life won't always be miraculous. There will be challenging, difficult, bitter, painful times. But you must know and believe that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the One who can bring happiness and joy back into your life. Just call out to Hashem, and He will help you sweeten your life."

How? "Sham Sam Lo Chok u'Mishpat"—Hashem says, "You know how I'm going to help you? I'm going to give you a foretaste of the Torah." In Marah, they were taught:

• The mitzvah of Parah Adumah.

• The mitzvot of Shabbat.

• Mishpatim (laws) for judges.

• Kibud Av v'Eim (honoring parents).

Hashem says, "If you want to improve your life, if you want your life to become sweeter, start keeping My mitzvot. That will bring meaning to your life and take the bitterness out."

The Power of Expressing Gratitude

Let's return to what we started with: "This is Shabbat Shira. What are we told? "Az Yashir Moshe" (Moshe will sing). Rashi explains that "Yashir" is the future tense. While some explanations suggest this hints at Techiyat HaMeitim (resurrection of the dead) when all will sing praises, Rashi offers a simpler yet profound insight: "Alah Beli Bulah Shir"—"He said, 'I would love to sing.'" And he sang.

How often in life do we have good intentions? We say, "Oh, this is wonderful! I really must take some time and thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu for all the good He's giving me." Then a challenging moment comes, and we forget how much we wanted to thank Hashem. Rashi tells us: the minute he wanted to thank and praise Hashem, he transformed that thought. He expressed it with a song of joy, happiness, and praise.

Moshe Rabbeinu, who himself had moments of doubt (as he said in Parashat Shemot, "Why have You done evil to this people?"), now understood. He said, "I have my answers, and I must thank You, Hashem." He expressed his thanks deeply and led Am Yisrael in a song of joy to help them understand the importance of expressing gratitude. When you feel the necessity to express your gratitude, do it! Say it. Say it with words. Don't just have the thoughts.

Tu B'Shvat: A Daily Song of Praise

This brings us to Tu B'Shvat. Just as there was Shirat HaYam, when nature awakens and trees blossom again, there is a special praise, a special Shira, that we say for all the ordinary, daily events in our life. How often do we take the time to truly observe and appreciate nature, to see its beauty and recognize the exceptional Shira we owe to Hakadosh Baruch Hu for all He constantly does for us?

What is the lesson of Tu B'Shvat?

• Everyone knows it's been winter and trees looked bare and dead. But a tree never truly dies if it's connected to its roots; it will always grow.

• The message of Rosh Hashanah La'Ilanot (New Year for Trees) is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu tells us, "Learn from the tree." A tree never stops growing, even in winter.

• A tree is meant to grow and produce fruit, even if it never receives thanks from anyone.

• "Ki Ha'Adam Etz HaSadeh"—man is compared to a tree. Learn from the tree: how to grow even in difficult moments, how to give even if others don't thank you. It's through giving, sharing, and thinking of others, even without expressed gratitude, that a person truly grows.

I'd like to remind you of some of the Shira connected to nature from Perek Shira:

• The Wheat: It proclaims, "Mi Ma'amakim Karaticha Hashem"—"From the depths of the Earth, I call out to You." The wheat sings: "Learn from me. I am placed in the depths of the earth, left to rot. Everyone thinks for months that I am finished. But then, after Tu B'Shvat, I begin to grow. Why? Because however deep I've been placed, I called out to You, Hashem."

• The Tzitzit (fringes of a garment): They say, "Tehillah L'El Yonah" (Praise to G-d on High). This is compared to a person who prays, covering themselves in a tallit—a sign of humility. Covered up, bowing their head, they call out: "Hashem, please help me." Many things in nature are covered up with fibers or a peel. Why? To protect them. When you cover yourself up, bow down, and call out to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, He will always make you grow.

• The Figs: The fig tree says, "Notzei Ha'Ilah Peiroh"—"He who cares for the fig tree will eat its fruit." We had a fig tree in Belgium, so I connect well to this. Figs don't ripen all at once; you have to care for the tree constantly, and fruits ripen at different moments. But if you have the patience to care, to tend, to pick carefully, and to wait for more to grow, that's how you succeed in life. Life isn't always fast-food success, where everything comes easily.

Remember, when you eat fruit on Tu B'Shvat, each fruit teaches us something. The pomegranate, the date palm: "Tzaddika KaTamar Tafrach"—"The righteous one will flourish like a palm tree." The palm tree spreads its branches, but all are connected to one center point, producing the sweetest dates. That's the power of the Tzaddik (righteous person): connected to their heart, thinking of everyone. That's the sweetness of the date tree.

As we eat the Sheva Minim (seven species) on Tu B'Shvat, it's not about exotic fruits, but connecting to the land and its lessons. It's the 15th day of the month, and there are 15 Shir HaMa'alot. We've often spoken about the number 15 leading to perfection, like the growth of the moon or the 15 steps in the Beit HaMikdash. That's why we say a Shir HaMa'alot between each fruit. That is the lesson of Tu B'Shvat:

• Let us be able to see all the blessings Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives us.

• Let us understand that there may be moments of darkness, but Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants to care for us in the best way possible.

As we say, "Zeh Keli v'Anvehu"—we proclaim, "Just as we saw You at Yam Suph, we want to beautify You, to serve You in the most beautiful way." This is Hiddur Mitzvah:

• Setting up a beautiful Shabbat table.

• Buying a beautiful Etrog.

• Buying a beautiful Mezuzah.

Why Hiddur? Hakadosh Baruch Hu could have just split the sea and led us through. No, Hashem made 12 paths, on firm earth, with sweet water fountains and fruit trees. Hashem saved us in a beautiful and loving way. This teaches us the message: "What I do for you, try to relate to Me in the same way."

So, may we all have a very beautiful and uplifting Shabbat Shira. May we feel the beauty of all that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives us, the blessings He bestows. And may we be able to serve Hakadosh Baruch Hu with Hiddur and with beauty.

Have a wonderful Shabbos! This will rapidly lead us to the time when we will sing the final Shira, the tenth Shira, when Mashiach will come, bimheira b'Yameinu (speedily in our days).

All my love from Yerushalayim.