B"H

Friday, Shevat 12, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 3, 2023

One of the greatest miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people after the Exodus was the miracle of the Splitting of the Sea. We read about this great miracle in this week’s Parsha, B’Shalach.

After the Exodus, when the Jewish people realized that the Egyptians were chasing after them, they prayed to G-d for a miracle. G-d told Moshe to raise his staff over the waters of the sea and they will split. Moshe did as instructed and the waters parted.

The waters stood like a wall on both sides, while the people of Israel crossed through the dry land between them. But when Pharaoh and his army chased after them, the waters rushed back to its original form, and they drowned.

In the Parsha we also read about the “Shira,” the song of praise, which Moshe and the Jewish men sang, after crossing the sea, praising G-d for this great miracle. Moshe’s sister, Miriam, took a tambourine and led all the women, who followed her with their tambourines and with dancing.   

Another great miracle G-d performed for the Jewish people after the Exodus, which we read in this Parsha, is,the miracle of the manna - "Bread from heaven" - which G-d provided for the people each day throughout their forty years in the desert.

The manna began exactly one month after the Exodus. Until then they still had food which they took out of Egypt. On the fifteenth of Iyar their food supply was depleted, and they began receiving a daily portion of manna from heaven.

Each day they received one portion of manna per person. On Fridays they received a double portion - for Friday and for Shabbat, because on Shabbat the manna did not come down. Shabbat was a day of rest for the manna. The manna was testimonial to the holiness of Shabbat. Some of our Shabbat customs, which are observed to this day are associated with the manna.

* We use two Challot (Shabbat breads), to recite the blessing for the Shabbat meals. This symbolizes the double portion of manna which G-d sent each Friday in honor of Shabbat.

* The two Shabbat Challot are covered until we recite the blessing over them. The reason is to remember the manna which was covered with a layer of dew. 

* It is customary to prepare a stew (some call it Cholent) which is placed on the stove before Shabbat in order to stay hot and delicious for the Shabbat afternoon meal. This custom is to remember the manna. On all other days of the week one wasn’t allowed to leave over any manna from one day to the next. If they did it would spoil. On Friday morning they received a double portion which stayed just as fresh, warm and delicious for the next day, Shabbat, as when it came down on Friday.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 4:45 / Shabbat ends: 5:52