Torah Sparks
Exodus 13:17 – 17:16
Our Torah portion tells of the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea, saving the Israelites from the attacking Egyptians. Our Shabbat gets a special name – the Shabbat of Song, Shabbat Shirah – because the Israelites burst forth in song after their deliverance. What prompted them to sing out at that moment?
The Torah introduces the Song at the Sea with this explanation: “Israel saw the ‘Great Sign (lit. –Hand)’ that the Eternal had done to Egypt; and the people had reverence for the Eternal, and they had faith in the Eternal and in Moses, His servant.” (Ex. 14:31) Thus a number of elements comprised the Israelite experience of their salvation. They were impressed by the might that God evinced against Egypt. This led them to have awe for God. But the final ingredient was that they had faith, faith in God and in Moses, as well. There is much to explore here. I wish to focus our attention on reading this verse as a key to explaining some of what brought Israel to start singing. The Torah seems to be telling us that the Song erupted out of a moment of faith. Faith unlocked the gates of song for Israel.
A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to take part in a Montclair community service honoring the great leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. The service, open to all, took place in a Baptist church and was attended in large part by members of that community. It was a very substantial and meaningful program. One thing that especially struck me was the fervor and energy the congregation brought to their singing. It was full-throated and whole-hearted. It occurred to me that a salient quality to their singing was the utter lack of embarrassment or self-consciousness they brought to their singing.
Their song was rooted in faith. But we unnecessarily limit our concept of faith if we think only in theological terms. Of course many of the congregation were true believers in God. But beyond that, their faith gave them an openness of heart that allowed them to pour forth their emotions and, in the process, take a spiritual and emotional journey that led them even deeper into themselves.
What happened at the far shore of the Red Sea was that the former Israelite slaves were finally able to let go of their terror and of their mistrust, orientations that become second nature in an oppressive environment. Because they felt safe they were able to feel trust – a better term than ‘faith’ – in God, in Moses, and in themselves. They could sing out without shyness or worry.
What keeps us from singing out in that way? We are not recently liberated slaves. Yet we, who are so fortunate to live lives of freedom and abundance never imagined in human history, seem shackled by social conventions, self-conceptions, and concerns that inhibit our spirits. The Red Sea of our lives has split open for us so many times and in so many ways, but we are still embarrassed to sing out loud. The feelings of freedom and of trust appear to us to be located on a far-off shore, inaccessible to us. But the Torah seeks to urge us onward: “Speak to the Children of Israel to get moving!” (Ex. 14:14) Because this thing that the Torah commands us “is not across the sea… but is in our very mouth and heart to accomplish.” (Deut. 30:13-14)
image: “Patti Smith Fans” © Blondin Rikard altered and used with permission via Creative Commons License 2
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