B"H
Thursday, Shevat 8, 5785 / February 6, 2025
Parshat B’shalach,which we will read this Shabbat,relates some of the great miracles the Jewish people witnessed after leaving Egypt.
First was the miracle of the splitting of the sea, through which the Jewish people were saved and the Egyptians drowned. After witnessing this great miracle, Moshe and the people sang the Shira – a song of praise to G-d for this great miracle.
It is for this reason that this Shabbat is called, Shabbat Shira, because of the SHIRA – SONG about which we read this Shabbat.
The Torah describes this miraculous episode as, "The Children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall on their right and their left… And the people feared G-d; and they believed in G-d and in Moshe His servant. Then Moshe and the children of Israel sang this song to the L-rd..."
The Torah makes special mention of the women singing, dancing and playing their tambourines in praise of G-d.
This song which was sung by the Jewish people over 3,000 years ago, praising G-d for this great miracle, was incorporated into our daily morning prayer.
The miracle of the daily manna, their daily food supplement which was sent from heaven each day for forty years, is also recorded in this Parsha. Each day they received a certain measurement of manna, which they had to go out and collect. On Friday they received a double portion, also for Shabbat.
Another miracle we read about in the Parsha is when the people didn’t have any water to drink. They complained to Moshe; “Why did you bring us out from Egypt to kill us, our children and our cattle in the desert? G-d told Moshe to take his staff and hit the rock and much water would come forth. Moshe did so and water came forth for everyone to drink. This rock travelled with them throughout their forty year journey in the desert and provided them with the water they needed.
At the end of the Parsha we read about the nation of Amalek, who came to wage war against the Jewish people. Moshe told Joshua to select brave and pious men to fight Amalek. Joshua did so and they weakened Amalek.
Q.Why do we recite each morning the Shira-song they sang after the miracle of crossing the sea?
A.To remind us thatEVERY DAY is a great miracle, no less than the miracle of the sea, and worthy of G-d's praises. The daily miracles are “hidden” miracles and most of them seem like natural events. Yet, if we open our eyes and minds… we will realize them and even see them as miracles.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW