Beshalach – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

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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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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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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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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Moshe Marcovich In Beshalach, 5758

The Bnei Yisrael went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

The Mechilta describes the scenario and the dialogue that took place among the tribes prior to the splitting of the Sea. Bnei Yisrael were standing by the shores of the Red Sea; the Egyptian army was literally breathing down their necks. Suddenly, they began to argue about who should go into the water first. Each tribe vied for the opportunity to enter the Red Sea first. During the negotiations, Nachshon ben Aminadav of the tribe of Yehudah jumped into the threatening waters. The tribe of Yehudah was indeed lauded for this singular act of devotion, as it is stated in…

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Moshe Marcovich In Beshalach, 5758

Hashem said to Moshe: “why do you cry out to Me? Speak unto Bnei Yisrael that they go forward.” (14:15)

Rashi explains Hashem’s response to Moshe as he stood in supplication before Him. Hashem told Moshe, “Now, when Bnei Yisrael are in distress is not the appropriate time to prolong prayer. Let them go forward. The merit of their forefathers and their own emunah, faith, which they have exhibited, are sufficient reason for the Sea to split before them.” This interpretation is enigmatic. Moshe was praying to Hashem during a time of severe crisis. Hashem told Moshe that now, when Bnei Yisrael were teetering on the brink of disaster, was not a time for prayer. There is no more propitious…

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Moshe Marcovich In Beshalach, 5758

And the people revered Hashem, and they believed in Hashem and in Moshe His servant. (14:31)

A Jew should strive to attain such a sublime level of emunah in Hashem that he truly believes with a clarity of vision. Let us explain. People accept the notion that “seeing is believing.” This means that in order to really believe, one must actually see the phenomenon. Hence, belief in a given concept is a step lower than actually seeing it. This is not the Torah perspective. The Chidushei Ha’Rim asserts that as Bnei Yisrael stood at the shores of the Red Sea and experienced unprecedented miracles, they were privy to a revelation of Hashem which was unparalleled. The…

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Moshe Marcovich In Beshalach, 5758

This is the thing that Hashem has commanded, a full omer of it shall be a safekeeping for your generations, so that they will see the food that I fed you in the wilderness. (16:32)

Bnei Yisrael were privy to an unprecedented array of miracles, ranging from the Ten Plagues to the many miracles that occurred during the Exodus, to the splitting of the Red Sea. The Jews clearly saw that Hashem was with them during times of crisis. However, was this the most crucial lesson? Or is there another miracle, which, although less profound in nature, has a more significant message? Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, observes that Bnei Yisrael were acutely aware that Hashem was close to them during the critical stages of their development. What about their recognition of Hashem’s role in their…

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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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

The Bnei Yisrael went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

Hashem said to Moshe: “why do you cry out to Me? Speak unto Bnei Yisrael that they go forward.” (14:15)

And the people revered Hashem, and they believed in Hashem and in Moshe His servant. (14:31)

This is the thing that Hashem has commanded, a full omer of it shall be a safekeeping for your generations, so that they will see the food that I fed you in the wilderness. (16:32)

YEARS

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