Beshalach – Appreciate the Journey

By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

In this week’s Parsha, we read about the greatest miracle in history, the splitting of the sea. The Sages go into great detail in describing the impact of this miracle. As a result of this event, Am Yisrael, out of thankfulness and gratitude, sang a song of praise to Hashem, Shirat Hayam. This is the first time in the Bible that we are presented with a song. Am Yisrael unite in joy and gratitude to Hashem for his salvation and being brought out of slavery.

An important message for us to understand concerning Am Yisrael‘s exodus, is that it was not just a historic event. Rather, it needed to happen in order to teach humankind two very important precepts. The first is the creation of a nation. Am Yisrael needed to emerge from the physically and psychologically dehumanizing conditions that they endured in Egypt and unite. Secondly, the Jewish people needed to learn the importance of glorifying Hashem‘s name in the world. Creating a chosen nation out of a downtrodden group of people, is a lesson to the world that Hashem has the power to do everything . When we, as Jews perform actions that sanctify Hashem‘s name, we are adding more spirituality to this world. On a deeper level these two morals intertwine. When Hashem‘s name is glorified, the Nation of Israel becomes stronger. The obstacles that we as Jews have conquered strengthen our beings on all levels. We become more confident, more giving, and more in tune with our spirituality. We can see these lessons interwoven in Moshe’s expression of his feelings immediately prior to singing the song of the sea. The Sages bring (Shemot Rabba 23,3):

כָּךְ אָמַר משֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁחָטָאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּאָז, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּמֵאָז בָּאתִי אֶל פַּרְעֹה, וַהֲרֵי טִבַּעְתָּ אוֹתוֹ לַיָּם, לְכָךְ אֲנִי מְשַׁבַּחֲךָ בְּאָז, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה.

As Moshe said to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, I know I have sinned to you with the word “Az” as it says “Az, I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has dealt worse with these people, and still You have not delivered Your people.” And Behold you have drowned him in the sea. I now praise you with the word “Az”, As it is written “Az Moshe and the Isrealites sang this song to the Lord”.

The word “Az” in Hebrew can mean “and then” or “ever since” depending on the context. Our Sages claim that Moshe used the same word twice on purpose. Moshe is saying that due to his feeling of what took place prior to the ten plagues, so too with these words I am praising your glory on the sea that has split. What does this mean? What is Moshe‘s message? The Beit Halevi gives a wonderful explanation. His explanation is best understood through an analogy.

A man went to visit his physician and was told that he had a life-threatening disease. The doctor informed him that unfortunately he had only two weeks to live. The man was shocked and spent the next two weeks despondent but trying his hardest to cherish his remaining time on this earth. He returned to his doctor two and half weeks later and was told that he was a walking miracle. The disease had miraculously disappeared!

A question was raised. If someone had asked this man if he would have preferred never to have had the disease and continue on living a normal life or to be diagnosed with the disease and have that disease miraculously disappear, what would he decide? There are two different answers to this question. One might suggest that he would have chosen never to have gone through such an ordeal. Why would one suffer and worry for nothing?! However, there is a different answer. The fact that he or she endured such an experience, shows the force and glory of Hashem‘s power in this world. The Beit Halevi claims that Moshe and Am Yisrael could have said that they appreciated Hashem‘s miracles and the journey that they went through, however if they could choose, they would never do it again. Moshe, in his words to Hashem, was saying that he valued the journey and that as a result of the entire exodus experience, Hashem‘s name was glorified. The entire exodus teaches that goodness, honesty and truth is the path we must follow in life.

We can take the Beit Halevi‘s message a step further. As a result of the exodus, Am Yisrael became something else. The people became the bearers of spirituality and goodness and they realized their true potential. The journey was essential in creating Am Yisrael‘s identity. By seeing the power of Hashem, we as a nation become stronger. The right path for Am Yisrael to follow is to thank Hashem not only the miracles, but for the knowledge and skills learned from the journey.

This important lesson is very relevant for Jews today. People look at obstacles and hardships negatively. They wish they never had to go through them, but that is an incorrect perspective. The trials and tribulations of our lives change who were are. If we did not experience the obstacles, we might lack the tools to build our future. When hard times fall upon us, we must be able to stand up and prevail. We must always look for lessons that we can learn from those hard times we have encountered.

Am Yisrael sang the song of praise not just because of the miracles that occurred, but out of the realization that the journey helped Am Yisrael become who they are. Throughout our history, we have gone through numerous difficult times, but they have helped define who we are. Let us keep this perspective close to our hearts and we will always be stronger because if it.