I will sing to HaShem, for very exalted is He

(Exodus 15:1)

Nisan 20, 5777/April 16, 2017

The seven day festival of Passover begins and ends with a holy day, a festive day in which no work shall be done. The first day of Passover commemorates the Hebrew slaves midnight exodus from Egypt. In preparation for their leaving Egypt forever, the Hebrews were given by G-d specific instructions to fulfill. Taking a lamb into their households on the tenth of the month, and slaughtering that same lamb, an object of worship in Egypt, on the fourteenth of the month, required extraordinary courage by the Hebrews, a courage that was born out of their deep faith in the G-d of their fathers, the G-d of Israel. They performed G-d's commandment to a "T" and perhaps even more outrageously, they diligently followed G-d's commandment to paint their doorposts with the blood of the lambs that they had slaughtered. A more provocative and politically incorrect display of faith in G-d's promise to carry them out of Egypt could not even be imagined. We owe our forebears a tremendous debt of gratitude. G-d promised and delivered, but for the courage they displayed it would all have been for naught.

The seventh day of Passover, which begins this evening, commemorates the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, which took place seven days after leaving Egypt. We recall that Israel discovered themselves in a bind. The deadly legions of Pharaoh were pressing them from behind, and before them stood an impassable sea. But most bewildering was the lack of a command from G-d to perform. Had Israel already not proven themselves? Give them a commandment, even the most daunting of commandments, and they will fulfill it! But G-d refused. "HaShem said to Moshe, Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel!" (Exodus 14:15)

Take charge of your own destiny! G-d was demanding. And take charge they did. Israel stepped into the sea which separated them from the land promised them by G-d, and lo, the sea opened and they crossed on dry land.

And then Israel did something even more extraordinary than all the things that they had done before: Israel burst into song! This was not a response to G-d's command, nor was it a response to a life threatening situation that demanded a solution. This was the spontaneous outpouring of love for G-d, sung in unison by the entire new-born nation of Israel, men and women, old and young. Where did it come from? How could it be that every soul knew and sang the exact same words of praise and joy! The entire people of Israel was one single soul, alive, free and united, for the very first time: One people, one nation, united and elated by the overwhelming love and knowledge of G-d's presence in their lives and their new found life as a nation.

From its opening words, "I will sing to HaShem, for very exalted is He; a horse and its rider He cast into the sea," to its closing words, "You shall bring them and plant them on the mount of Your heritage, directed toward Your habitation, which You made, HaShem; the sanctuary, HaShem, which Your hands founded. HaShem will reign to all eternity," (ibid 15:1, 17-18) the Song of the Sea remains to this day the defining expression of the eternal spirit of the nation of Israel. The new born nation of Israel took its first steps on the dry depths of the Sea of Reeds, but when Israel's heart opened and out burst the Song of the Sea, she spread her wings for the very first time. Chag Pesach Sameach - Happy Passover!

-The Temple Institute