This week we read the story of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. This Shabbat is called Shabbat Shirah, the Shabbat of the Song. The transition from previous parshiot to this one, even just by it’s name is striking. Though the exodus and danger has not yet ended, the crossing of the sea marks a moment of hope and a belief in possibilities. The people burst out in song and in joyful dancing as they recognize how remarkable their moment is — a moment very different than the Egyptians.
Chapter 14, verses 28 and 29 contain this one moment but two realities -- the fate of the Egyptians and the fate of Israelites as they cross the Sea:
וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַמַּ֗יִם וַיְכַסּ֤וּ אֶת־הָרֶ֙כֶב֙ וְאֶת־הַפָּ֣רָשִׁ֔ים לְכֹל֙ חֵ֣יל פַּרְעֹ֔ה הַבָּאִ֥ים
אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּיָּ֑ם לֹֽא־נִשְׁאַ֥ר בָּהֶ֖ם עַד־אֶחָֽד
The waters turned back and covered the chariots and the horsemen—Pharaoh’s entire army that followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.
וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיָּ֑ם וְהַמַּ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ חֹמָ֔ה מִֽימִינָ֖ם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם
But the Israelites had marched through the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
I had always read this text as First - the Isralites crossed, then Second - the waters covered and drowned the Egyptians. But as I read again with the commentary of Sforno, I realize that these verses speak to one moment and two realities.
Sforno writes:
ובני ישראל הלכו ביבשה
“Meanwhile the Children of Israel had walked on dry land.”
This verse is inseparably linked to the previous one, as it contrasts the experiences of the Israelites and those of the Egyptians at one and the same time. Two winds each blowing in opposite directions had been at work during that period. The wind described in Moses’ song in 15,8, served the interests of the Israelites, whereas the words: נשפת ברוחך, “You blew with Your wind,” served to lure the Egyptians to their destruction.
I read these verses, perhaps in a bit radical way, without paying attention to the fact that those who walk the dry land are the people of Israel, being saved by God, and the ones drowning are the oppressors, the Egyptians. Instead, I read this in light of our present time, a time when there are winds blowing in different directions. There are winds blowing toward death and illness, as people continue to suffer and die from COVID 19, as the pandemic still rages in our country and in the world, and as there appears new, and highly contagious mutations. But the winds are also blowing toward hope, as slowly people are beginning to be vaccinated. It is slow, yes it is frustratingly slow. But the winds are blowing toward the end of this scary and difficult time. The winds are blowing toward dry land, and a crossing toward hope.
In our reading this week, the crossing of the sea holds death and survival, fear and hope. Even in the midst of their singing we know that hopelessness, despair and tragedy have not yet left the Israelites. There will be trials ahead.
וַתַּ֥עַן לָהֶ֖ם מִרְיָ֑ם שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם
And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to the LORD, for God has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver God has hurled into the sea.
וַיַּסַּ֨ע מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּם־ס֔וּף וַיֵּצְא֖וּ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־שׁ֑וּר וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־יָמִ֛ים
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְלֹא־מָ֥צְאוּ מָֽיִם
Then Moses caused Israel to set out from the Sea of Reeds.
They went on into the wilderness of Shur; they traveled three days in the wilderness and found no water.
As I drove back from the clinic, I felt profound hope and gratitude for science, for the people who made this vaccine possible, for the people who distributed and delivered this vaccine, and for the people who have been and continue to work for the health of our communities.
I feel in my soul the blessing of my privilege to receive this vaccine even before so many others, and I am cognizant of the responsibility it affords me -- to deeply serve my community. As TBZ member Jen Wofford very eloquently wrote in her Facebook page after receiving her vaccine as a licensed clinical social worker:
I’ve thought a lot about the inequities in distribution. I wondered why the commonwealth didn’t put grocery workers before social workers but I also read the strong advice to accept the invitation to receive your vaccination when offered and that declining because of inequities isn’t the right move. I pondered it. But I’ll make use of it.
I know those who have been given this opportunity to be vaccinated will use this gift in service to our communities. In Jen’s words: “So that’s my commitment to stepping up and honoring the shot.” For me, this gift means I can be more physically available to those who need my presence, to you, in greater safety and less anxiety.
As I returned home, as the snow kept coming down into my windshield, I also realized that the journey is far from over; so many of us are still drowning and there is no water available in the desert. How do we hold the hope, the joy, the dancing, alongside the brokenness and pain. Perhaps it is the dancing and the singing that can rescue us when we feel we are drowning. Perhaps it is the dancing and the singing that remind us of joy, and inspires us to reach out and help those who are drowning and in despair. The biblical exodus doesn't end with the crossing of the Sea, but the Israelites now feel hope and believe in possibility. Perhaps the next chapter of our exodus from pandemic and pain will come because there is this glimpse of joy, there is song. There is a belief that things will be better.
It has been quite a few weeks. As we have transitioned to a new administration in our country, and I feel the glimmering of joy and of dance. I am breathing lighter, as I wrote last week. I want to invite us and encourage us to see the dancing and hear the singing, embrace the hope and the joy, for this is the fuel that will propel us forward. There is much to do, there is much to reckon with and there is repair and reparation ahead. We have not yet arrived, but a room full of hope gives us the strength to remind ourselves that redemption and possibility is at hand.
May this Shabbat bring renewal and blessings to all of you and
your loved ones..
May we find strength, courage, and patience, and open our hearts
with generosity.
May all those who are ill find healing.
May we have a joyful and restful Shabbat!
Shabbat Shalom,
