Sedra: Beshalach
With Rabbi Naftali Schiff.
AFTER LAST week’s dramatic flight to freedom from the Egyptian slave labour camps to the relative safety of the wilderness, the Jews find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
Pharaoh’s change of heart led to him mustering his forces, harnessing his horses and chariots to drive the fleeing Jews into the sea.
The newly-freed Jewish nation find themselves in mortal danger until the sea miraculously splits, allowing the Jews safe passage and drowning their Egyptian slave masters in what is perhaps the most famous biblical story of all time. The Jews’ response to this miraculous salvation is to spontaneously break into song, the shirat hayam.
The Rabbis of the Talmud note that each person experienced a revelation at that moment, zeh keli, “this is my God”, ve anvehu, “and I will glorify Him”. It is perhaps the seminal moment in the development of the everlasting relationship between the Jewish people and God. Each Jew saw the same God in their own way, through the window of their own soul, but joined together in song as one nation.
The Talmud further explains that the word veanvehu also means “and I will beautify Him”, and derives from it the concept of Hiddur mitzvah, “beautifying mitzvoth”. The Jewish journey is one that is as unique as it is beautiful and we must grasp any opportunity to take what might otherwise seem mundane or routine and create something exciting, inspiring and relevant. This week’s Haftarah, the longest of the year, is also one of song, the song of Deborah’s victory over the forces of Sisera.
Interestingly enough, when Deborah refers to her own achievements, God’s name is not mentioned. Therein lies a valuable lesson about the importance of working in tandem with those around us. When we work as individuals, for our own aims, God withdraws His presence from us. It is only when we join forces with those who have similar objectives that we can truly achieve success.
Indeed, many liken the Jewish people to an orchestra in which there are a number of different sections and many instruments, each with their own voices but enhancing the same tune.
The Jewish nation is made all the more beautiful when we each sing in our own way, but all together as one.
• Rabbi Naftali Schiff is the CEO of Aish UK
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
