This week's 10-Minute Torah (January 15, 2022): "Parashat Beshalach" 5782

https://youtu.be/QcHUj2czTqc

Parashat Beshalach 5782 / פָּרָשַׁת בְּשַׁלַּח

Read on 15 January 2022 / 13 Sh'vat 5782.

Parashat Beshalach is the 16th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

Torah Portion: Exodus 13:17-17:16 https://tikkun.io/#/r/2-13-17

In this parashah, Pharaoh changes his mind and chases after the Israelite people with his army, trapping them at the Sea of Reeds. God commands Moses to split the sea, allowing them to pass, then closes the sea back upon the Egyptian army. There are the miracles of manna and clean water. The nation of Amalek attacks and the Israelite people are victorious. [1]

Triennial year 3

1: 14:26-15:21 · 27 p’sukim ·

2: 15:22-26 · 5 p’sukim ·

3: 15:27-16:10 · 11 p’sukim ·

4: 16:11-27 · 17 p’sukim ·

5: 16:28-36 · 9 p’sukim ·

6: 17:1-7 · 7 p’sukim ·

7: 17:8-16 · 9 p’sukim ·

maf: 17:14-16 · 3 p’sukim ·

Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Judges 4:4-5:31 · 52 p’sukim

Haftarah for Sephardim: Judges 5:1-31 · 31 p’sukim

Shabbat Shirah 2022 / שַׁבָּת שִׁירָה 5782

Shabbat of Song 🕍

Shabbat Shirah for Hebrew Year 5782 begins at sundown on Friday, 14 January 2022 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 15 January 2022. This corresponds to Parashat Beshalach.

Shabbat Shirah ("Sabbath [of] song" שבת שירה) is the name given to the Shabbat that includes Parsha Beshalach. The Torah reading of the week contains the Song of the sea (Exodus 15:1–18). This was the song by the Children of Israel after the Passage of the Red Sea.

We have a very interesting dichotomy here. Hashem has completed his rescue and redemption of the Israelite people. Hashem is fulfilling his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to bring their descendants to the Promised Land and make them a great nation.

G-d revealed himself to Moses as YHVH. He had Moses return to Egypt and meet up with his brother Aaron to confront Pharaoh to release our Israelite ancestors from the house of bondage. When Pharaoh refused, G-d wrought signs and wonders as the ten plagues that forced the Egyptians to give them their freedom. After they left Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them, regretting letting valuable slaves leave. Hashem them split the Sea of Reeds and hardened the ground allowing the Israelites to pass through in safety while drowning the pursuing Egyptians. Moses then sings the Song at the Sea and Miriam, here first called a prophetess, dances in celebration with the other women.

The excitement and appreciation of freedom was short lived. A few days later, traveling in the Wilderness towards their new home, the Israelites start complaining. First they complained that there was no water, and G-d showed them an oasis. Next they complained about not having food, and G-d sent manna, cakes of bread to sustain them. Then the Israelites complained about not having meat, and G-d sent them quail.

The Israelites, having been treated as slaves for over a hundred years, couldn’t accept being free to survive on their own. This was their slave mentality. Did Hashem set them up to fail or was this the best anyway? Were the Israelites doomed because they didn’t have the character to face the challenges of surviving in the Wilderness and being able to conquer the land? Did Hashem know that they were not up to the task and that there was a need for a generation born in the Wilderness who would have that important spirit to take Canaan?

This is an interesting concept in Judaism, free will vs. nature. It continues the discussion of Hashem hardening Pharaoh’s heart that would necessitate the plagues. While Pharaoh was given ten chances to relent and free our people, he stubbornly clung to his power and ego. Likewise, our ancestors were given the chance to embrace freedom and make their own destiny and yet didn’t seem like they were taking that initiative.