Parshat Beshalach: Shabbat Shira, Shirat HaYam, and the Everlasting Power of Emunah

Good morning, everyone. Though it's late, this special Shabbat—Shabbat Shira—calls for reflection. It’s connected to Shirat HaYam, the Song at the Sea, commemorating the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea (Kriyat Yam Suf). This Shabbat often coincides with Tu BiShvat, the New Year for trees, linking the dramatic miracles of the Exodus with the quiet, ongoing miracle of nature’s rebirth after winter.

Tu BiShvat reminds us to open our eyes and thank Hashem not just for open miracles, but for daily ones—the blossoming of a tree, the sweetness of fruit, the renewal of life. These miracles, though subtle, are no less divine. As always, we are reminded to live with gratitude and emunah, even in life’s quiet moments.

The Revelation at the Sea: A Glimpse Beyond Nature

Our Sages delve deeply into the significance of Shirat HaYam. Why did Hashem wait until the moment of fear and despair at the sea to reveal such a profound miracle? The answer: to elevate the emunah of the entire nation.

Yes, the Ten Plagues taught them Hashem’s Hashgacha Pratit, but at Kriyat Yam Suf, the revelation was incomparable. The Midrash teaches that even a simple servant saw what the prophet Yechezkel didn’t—Ma’aseh Merkavah, the workings of the Divine Chariot.

The Ramban emphasizes this was a moment of prophetic clarity, where even the lowest person was given access to the spiritual heights of the Shivah Reki’im (seven heavens). But as Rambam cautions, miracles alone don’t change people. Transformation only comes when we ask:

“Why is Hashem showing me this? What does He expect of me now?”

Some internalized this revelation. Others let it fade. After the Six-Day War, for example, some people changed their lives forever. Others resumed life as usual. Emunah must be followed by introspection.

Nachshon’s Courage: The Catalyst for the Sea’s Splitting

So what brought about the miracle? When the Israelites reached the sea, they panicked. Only Yehudah and Binyamin declared: If Hashem says the sea will split, we enter! And Nachshon ben Aminadav did just that—he jumped into the water until it reached his mouth. That act of mesirut nefesh triggered the miracle.

The Ba’al HaTurim points out something fascinating in the Torah’s wording. Initially, the pasuk says:

“Vayavo Bnei Yisrael ba-toch ha-yam ba-yabashah” – they entered the sea before it became dry.Later, it says:“U-venei Yisrael halchu ba-yabashah be-toch ha-yam” – they waited for dry land before entering.

In the first, "chomah" (wall) is spelled with a vav, suggesting stability. In the second, the word is spelled without the vav—hinting at cheimah (anger). Hashem was displeased with those who waited for total safety.

The message? Miracles are reserved for those who leap with faith, not those who wait for guarantees.

From Emunah to Bitachon: The Challenge Ahead

After such a miracle, you'd expect unwavering trust in Hashem. But three days later, they lacked water and complained. They forgot. The Rambam teaches: emunah is not enough; we must develop bitachon—a calm, unshakable trust in Hashem’s care.

Despite Kriyat Yam Suf, the nation still needed to grow in their spiritual maturity. Miracles don’t always last—our inner work does.

Miriam’s Drum: The Strength of Women

At the end of the Shira, Miriam appears with a tof (drum), not a soft, feminine instrument. Why?

Rav Widmann explains: a drum is something you bang. Women in Mitzrayim were banged by suffering, yet remained whole in their emunah. As Chazal say:

"B’zchut Nashim Tzidkaniyot nigalu avoteinu"—In the merit of righteous women, we were redeemed.

Miriam’s drum celebrated that inner strength. She led the women in their own song—affirming that not just the men, but women too merited Torah and redemption. Like the horses who enabled the chariots, women who support their families spiritually share in the merit.

The Test of Amalek: Emunah in the Dark

The parasha ends with another crisis: no water. They ask,

“Is Hashem among us or not?”This doubt invites Amalek, who attacks in the desert.

Moshe prays while Yehoshua fights, and the Torah says:

“Vayehi yadav emunah ad bo ha-shemesh” – His hands were emunah until sunset.

The hands we lift in prayer—those are our strength. Even in darkness, we must lift our hands and hearts to Hashem. Prayer is our greatest weapon.

Modern Stories of Emunah and Kindness

Let me share two true stories of emunah that touched me this week:

A Marriage of Faith

Over 60 years ago in Yerushalayim, a kallah stood waiting for her chuppah. The chatan fled, overcome by fear. Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, upon hearing this, approached the groom’s friends and promised Olam HaZeh and Olam HaBa to anyone willing to marry her.

One finally said yes. They met briefly, agreed, and married that night. Years later, at their 50th anniversary, the husband told his grandchildren:

“That was your grandmother and me. I believed in the Rav’s words and in Hashem. That emunah gave us everything.”

A Van, a Wedding, and a Blessing

A taxi driver in Israel, suffering from cancer, stayed positive and helpful. He met a woman at chemo struggling to marry off her child. He offered his large van to help her family reach the wedding.

After staying all night, he drove back to Bnei Brak, dropped them off at 4 AM, and went to look for another fare. A tourist emerged and asked for a ride to Yerushalayim—offering 2,000 shekel and two weeks of work.

“See?” the driver said. “I helped someone else, and Hashem sent me parnassah from Shamayim. I even had enough to marry off my own son!”

Conclusion: Let Us All Sing

As we enter Shabbat Shira, let’s not just recall the miracles of the past—let’s live with gratitude and awareness of the miracles around us. Let’s ask:

What does Hashem want from me now? How can I live with deeper faith, kindness, and courage?

May we all sing a Shira of gratefulness, and may we continue to see Hashem’s goodness—both in the big miracles and in the small, quiet ones.

Shabbat Shalom, and a beautiful, uplifting Shabbat Shira.

Beshalach 2020