Beshalach

📜 The Story

Parshat Beshalach opens right after Pharaoh finally lets Bnei Yisrael leave Egypt. Instead of taking the short way to the Land of Israel, Hashem leads the people on a longer path through the desert, so they will not lose courage if they suddenly face war. Hashem guides them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so they always know which way to go.

Pharaoh changes his mind again and chases after Bnei Yisrael with his army and chariots. The people find themselves trapped between the Egyptian army and the Yam Suf (Sea of Reeds). Hashem tells Moshe to raise his staff, and the sea splits into two walls of water with dry land in between. Bnei Yisrael walk safely across, but when the Egyptians follow, the sea closes over them.

After this incredible miracle, Moshe and the people sing a beautiful song of thanks to Hashem called Az Yashir, the Song of the Sea. Miriam, Moshe's sister, takes a timbrel and leads all the women in singing and dancing to thank Hashem too.

The people travel into the desert, and soon they run into problems: bitter water at Marah, which Hashem sweetens through Moshe throwing in a piece of wood, and then hunger, which Hashem answers by sending manna from the sky every morning and quail in the evening. A double portion of manna falls every Friday, teaching Bnei Yisrael to keep Shabbat, the day of rest.

Near the end of the parsha, the nation of Amalek attacks Bnei Yisrael at Refidim. Yehoshua leads the fighters below, while Moshe stands on a hill with his hands raised, helped by Aharon and Chur. As long as Moshe's hands are up, Bnei Yisrael wins the battle. Afterward Moshe builds an altar and calls it Hashem Nissi, thanking Hashem for the victory.