Shabbat

This week the Torah teaches us about:

Manna from Heaven

Escaping the Egyptians because the Red Sea split for us

Lots of complaints of "no water" "no food"

Fears of enemies fears of the unknown desert 
and fears of being trapped between armies and the ocean

All of These are seen TODAY or recently

AND THE ALMIGHTY TEACHES US in this portion ABOUT MIRACLES AND NOT TO DESPAIR

But first a few questions - and hopefully some people will read the whole portion to gain personal understanding and satisfaction and to oversome some personal limitations - or just because it's there!

 

Why didn't the people give themselers strength by singing at the Red Sea BeFore walking into the water -  or While they were crossing

 

How many complaints did the Israelites have in the desert and why?

 

How many Jews from Eastern Europe survived in Russia as opposed to the six million?

 

Why do Jews complain about the Israel that protects seven million Jews (and more) today?

 

When do individuals learn to appreciate the bounty given by G-d?

 

When does a tribe learn that?

 

When does a whole people learn to stop kvetching and start saying THANK YOU for the world?

 

When will the world stop listening to divisive politicians and start being good neighbors?

 

 IN RECENT HISTORY

Manna from Heaven ?  Israel has become a successful developed country exporting hi tech

Escaping the Egyptians because the Red Sea split for us? The Israelite nation survived -

    in Ethiopia India Europe - and in Israel which was a DESERT for 2000 years until Israel Independence

    and has survived 70 years of open or covert war against the Jews!

Lots of complaints of "no water" - Israel now exports water technology around the world

Fears of enemies fears of the unknown desert and fears of being trapped between armies and the ocean

TODAY MANY PEOPLE SUFFER TRAUMAS - EVEN IN ISRAEL - BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TOO

 

SO SING AND DANCE A LITTLE - IN HONOR OF SHABBAT - THANKING THE ALMIGHTY
AND TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE AND OF EDEN INTO THE WORLD

Shabbat Shalom

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

 

 

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 Parsha, Beshalach, is filled with miracles, transitions and complaints. The inaugural complaint by the Jewish people involves their fear of being overrun by the pursuing Egyptian army, to which Moshe responds “stand firm and watch…” how G-d will save us (14:13). The word used to instruct the Jews to stand firm is “hit-yatzvu”, a word seldom used by the Torah. Why would it be important for us to stand firm while G-d fights our battle, and what’s the significance of that special word?  

Rabbi Fohrman (www.alephbeta.org) explains that the word hit-yatzvu was used when Miriam stood to see what would happen to Moshe when watching him by the river. Her actions demonstrated her belief that things will work out, despite the perilous risk to Moshe’s life. 

There’s a difference between observing something and having conviction of a certain outcome. Moshe’s message was not only to have faith in Hashem but to teach them to have steadfast conviction in the result.

 When we encounter struggles in life,  through one word G-d reminds us to not only have faith but conviction that G-d will also help us through them. Just watch. 

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Quotation of the week:
“When you learn, teach. When you get, give."