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Home -> 5760 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5760

Hashem said to Moshe, “Why do you cry out to Me?” (14:15)

More than once in his lifetime, a man will face a situation from which there is no escape. He is up against the wall. Anxiety, fear and trepidation set in. What does he do? To whom does he turn? Horav David Bliacher, z.l., one of the preeminent disciples of the Alter m’Novardok, cites this above pasuk in his response to the problems that so many of us face during the course of a lifetime. Klal Yisrael was up against the proverbial wall. In front of them, was the Red Sea; behind them were the cruel Egyptians, intent on “recovering” their…

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Home -> 5760 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5760

“The water came back and covered the chariots and the horsemen…there remained not a one of them.” (14:28)

The Daas Zekeinim derives from the words “ad echad”, “not a one”, that one person did survive, namely Pharaoh. Yalkut Shimoni says that Pharaoh repented at the last minute. His teshuvah was accepted, and he eventually became the king of Ninveh. The Alshich Ha’kadosh writes that Pharaoh was enveloped in a large wave, and as he was about to succumb, he uttered the words “Mi chamocha ba’eilim Hashem”, “Who is like You, among the Heavenly powers?” He was so weak that the sound was barely heard. Consequently, the “chaf” of “kamocha” is “weak”, written without the “dagesh,” dot in the…

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Home -> 5760 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5760

“This is my G-d, and I will beautify Him; the G-d of my father, and I will exalt Him.” (15:2)

Rashi explains that a person’s spiritual position is his legacy, transmitted to him from his ancestors: “I am not the genesis of my holiness. Rather, it is bequeathed to me from my forefathers in whom it was firmly entrenched.” Rashi’s explanation does not seem to coincide with the text. If our spiritual stature has its roots in our forebears, it should have first stated, “the G-d of my father,” and then, “my G-d”. Horav Mordechai Gifter, z.l., explains that avodas Hashem, serving the Almighty, demands both of these perspectives. To serve Hashem, one must serve as an individual, using his…

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Home -> 5760 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5760

“Hashem shall reign for all eternity.” (15:18)

In the Aleinu prayer, which we recite thrice daily, we implore Hashem “that You may reign over them soon and eternally.” The Meshech Chochmah explains the concept of “soon” in regard to Hashem’s reign over the world. A person carries out his mind’s commands which is in the form of an electrical impulse. The brain decides to act. It sends a message (impulse) via the heart to the specific organs or limbs involved, and the person acts. This is not the case in the event that the mind sends a command that is contrary to the well- being of the…

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Home -> 5760 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5760

He said, “If you will listen diligently to the voice of Hashem, your G-d, and you will do what is just in His eyes, and you will give ear to His commandments and observe all His statutes, then any of the diseases that I have placed upon Egypt, I will not place upon you.” (15:26)

Life in This World, albeit temporal, grants one incredible opportunity to achieve immense spiritual reward. Chazal teach us that This World is only a vestibule, a passageway to the real world. If we only begin to realize the tremendous opportunity we have for spiritual accomplishment, we would never waste a moments time. Indeed, a simple act of kindness, a moment of spiritual endeavor performed here during one’s lifetime, can never be recaptured after one is gone. All Hashem asks of us is to do, to act, to perform. He will remunerate us beyond our wildest dreams when the appropriate time…

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Home -> 5759 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5759

Pharaoh approached; the Bnei Yisrael raised up their eyes and behold – Egypt was journeying after them. (14:10)

Rashi notes that the word “nosea,” journeying, is written in the singular.   It should be written as “nosim”, in the plural, which would be the appropriate term for describing an entire army.  He explains that the Egyptians were all united in heart and mind, committed to pursuing and destroying the Jews.  Everyone amassed into a united front with the singular goal of destruction.  The Avnei Nezer notes a similar syntax for describing the Jewish camp at Har Sinai immediately preceding the Giving of the Torah.  The Torah states (Shemos 19:2), “Vayichan ha’am neged ha’har,” “and the nation camped before the…

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Home -> 5759 -> Beshalach

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5759

Moshe said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of Hashem…for as you have seen Egypt today, you shall not see them ever again…Hashem shall do battle for you, and you shall remain silent. Hashem said to Moshe, “Why do you cry out to Me?” (14:13, 14,15)

Chazal teach us that four distinct groups confronted Moshe. The first group were the fatalists, who felt the end was near, no vestige of hope remained.  They might as well walk into the sea and die, rather than fall into Pharaoh’s hands.  The second group consisted of the pacifists, who felt that the only way out of their present predicament was to return to Egypt and adopt the Egyptian culture.  Their motto was: If you cannot fight them – join them.  These people were scared of their own shadow, submitting before they ever had a chance to fight.  The third…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5759

Then Moshe and Bnei Yisrael chose to sing this song to Hashem. (15:1)

Klal Yisrael praised Hashem for the miracle of Krias Yam Suf, the splitting of the Red Sea, through a shirah, a song of praise.  This rare, sublime expression of gratitude to Hashem is unique in its form and meaning.  We should address a pressing question regarding the shirah.  Krias Yam Suf was not the first miracle that Klal Yisrael had experienced.  Many miraculous occurrences had preceded it.  There were the Ten Plagues that befell Egypt.  Were they so “natural” that they paled in comparison to the splitting of the Red Sea?  Why did Klal Yisrael wait so long to sing…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Beshalach, 5759

Moshe caused Bnei Yisrael to journey from the Yam Suf…they went for a three day period in the wilderness, but they did not find water. (15:22)

Moshe had to force the people to leave the Yam Suf.  Had it been up to Klal Yisrael, they would have remained there gathering up the immense spoils of the Egyptian army.  Chazal tell us that the Egyptians, asssured of their impending victory over the Jews, bedecked their horses with every type of jewelry, gold and silver.  After it was all over, the Jews had a “difficult” time coping with the enormous wealth that was now theirs for the taking.  As a result, they refused to leave.  Their behavior is mind-boggling!  It is understandable that people seek wealth for a…

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Home -> 5758 -> Beshalach

Moshe Marcovich
In Beshalach, 5758

Hashem said to Moshe: “Stretch out your hand over the sea, and the water will go back upon Egypt.” (14:26)

Bnei Yisrael were saved from certain death when the waters of the Red Sea miraculously split before them.  Hashem’s Divine decree altered the course of nature for His People.  What happened afterwards when the people had passed safely through?  The waters should have reverted to their original state.  That is what should have happened.  The Torah, however, records that Hashem commanded Moshe to “stretch out your hand over the sea, and the waters will go back upon Egypt.”  Why did they not simply fall back to their original position?  Once the purpose of the miracle had been fulfilled and its…

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