Dear BSO Congregant,

This coming Shabbat, February 6 -7, 2004 - Shevat 14-15, 5764, we will read Parshat Beshallah (annual cycle - Exodus 13:17 -17:16; triennial cycle - Exodus 14:26 -17:16). The Haftarah is the Song of Deborah, from Judges 4:4-5:31.

This Shabbat also coincides with Tu B'Shvat, the fifteenth of Shevat, the Jewish holiday of planting trees in Israel.  Support JNF and plant a tree in our holy land - call 800-542-8733. 

The Shabbat on which we read Parashat Beshallah is also known as Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath of Song.  It is designated Shabbat Shira because the Torah reading of Beshallah always includes “Shirat Ha-Yam – the Song of the Sea” (Exodus 15:1-18).  Shirat Ha-Yam is a majestic poem/song (in Hebrew, the word “shir” means both “poem” and “song”) which is chanted with a special melody and during which the congregation is asked to rise. 

Shirat Ha-Yam is so important that it is included in the daily preliminary service as part of our daily morning prayers.  You can find it on Page 92-93 in Siddur Sim Shalom.  In addition, the rabbis who compiled and edited the traditional prayerbook decided that the last two verses of Exodus Chapter 14, the verses which immediately precede Shirat Ha-Yam, should also be used to introduce the recitation of Shirat Ha-Yam in our daily prayers.  Therefore, immediately prior to reciting Shirat Ha-Yam, we also, daily, recite Exodus 14:30-31 (found at the bottom of Page 90-91 in Siddur Sim Shalom).  These are the verses I wish to examine in this D’var Torah.

Exodus 14:30  -  “Thus the Lord saved Israel from the hand of Egypt on that day; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore of the sea.”

The first half of the above verse is a theological assertion based on what actually happened on the day of freedom – the day of the Exodus.  The Israelites were saved from the Egyptians.  That is indisputable.  The text tells us that it was the Lord who saved the Israelites.  That is a matter of belief. 

The second half of the verse also states something that was indisputable – the Israelites saw the dead Egyptians lying on the shore of the sea.  Everyone there witnessed the same events, and witnessed this same result – that Egyptians were lying dead on the seashore.  The Hebrew term “Va-yar Yisrael” means “and Israel saw.”  That is the phrase that is used to describe the Israelites viewing the dead Egyptians on the seashore.

Exodus 14:31  -  This next verse again begins with that phrase, “Va-yar Israel-and Israel saw,”:

“Va-yar Israel-and Israel saw the great power which the Lord wielded against the Egyptians, Va-yeeroo - the people feared the Lord – they believed in the Lord and in Moses, His servant.” 

Again the text turns to a theological assertion.  Did everyone see the great power of the Lord against the Egyptians?  We know that even later in Chapter 15 there are Israelites who continue to doubt the power of the Lord, and do not trust or believe in God’s salvation.  And do we honestly imagine that every single Israelite believed in God, unequivocally, even after seeing the dead Egyptians on the seashore?  Probably not!  There were still probably some disbelievers among the Israelite people, despite all the Israelites seeing the same course of events, which included the dead Egyptians lying on the seashore.

Very often, we state that we will believe something only when we see it.  I have learned that the religious human being has a different mindset.  That person begins with an apriori belief, which in turn leads to seeing the world in a different way.  The Song of the Red Sea is introduced by these two verses, as if to indicate that even though we may all see the same events unfolding in the world, we don’t all bring the same set of beliefs to those events.  Not everyone saw God’s hand in the event of the Exodus.  Not everyone was willing to admit God’s saving power was at work upon the Israelites and their freedom from Egypt.

The text plays with term “Va-yar Yisrael” meaning “and Israel saw.”  The Israelites who were able to see not only the dead Egyptians on the seashore, but also the hand of God in everything that was happening to Egypt, were also the ones who “Va-yeeroo – feared” the Lord and believed in the Lord and Moses, His servant.  Sometimes seeing leads to believing, and sometimes believing leads to seeing.

Our synagogue and congregation is certainly a good example of the importance of belief leading to results which others could not see.  Very soon we will, God willing, dedicate our newly-expanded B’nai Shalom of Olney synagogue.  Along the way, there have been many people who said no, we would not be able to complete the project as planned.  I won’t believe it until I see it.  Hopefully, those people are now convinced.  Thank God there were others who were able to say yes, I believe that this project is indeed in the future for our congregation, and because I believe this, I will make sure to see it through.

That attitude is a trademark of the Jew.  Yes, it is much easier to believe after you see but often, it is also much easier to see after you believe.

Candle lighting time is 5:15 PM.  

Our Friday night Family/Birthday/Anniversary service will begin at 7:30 PM.   

Our Shabbat morning service will begin at 9:15 AM (this will be the time of Shabbat morning services through February 21).   

Our Shabbat Minha service will begin at 12:30 PM.   

Our service on Sunday morning, February 8 will begin at 8:45 AM.

Rabbi Philip Pohl
B'nai Shalom of Olney
18401 Burtfield Dr.
Olney, MD 20832
301-774-0879
301-774-3992 FAX