The Splitting of the Sea of Reeds

Found 31 Search results

Divine Therapy at the Red Sea
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
The Splitting of the Sea has a dual purpose: the explicit purpose involves the Egyptians, and the implicit purpose involves Am Yisrael. This conclusion stems from a literary analysis of the episode, which includes two parallel parts.
Slave Mentality
Rabbi Alex Israel | 41 minutes
This parasha is very exciting –there is a building crescendo leading up to the miraculous splitting of the sea. But then Bnei Yisrael complain after a lack of food and water. Is God really leading the nation and providing for Bnei Yisrael? By examining literary structure and themes, and with the help of other texts, we will look at the educational message underlying the parasha.
Parshat Beshalach
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
Bnei Yisrael gloriously depart Egypt, expecting a short journey to the Land of Israel. To their surprise, they encounter instead situations of frightening war, terrible hunger, and life-threatening thirst. Are Bnei Yisrael expected not to complain; to passively accept this fate, to wait patiently for God's salvation? Is God simply 'testing' their patience? In order to answer these questions we explore the purpose of the Exodus from Egypt as a process of building trust in God. During the six week period after the Exodus, Bnei Yisrael encounter several traumatic experiences and changes in daily routine which help transform their instinctive physical dependence on Egypt to their instinctive physical dependence on God.
From Sea to Sinai - Trials and Edification
Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish |
Between the two great revelations in the book of Shemot, the splitting of the sea and the Ten Commandments, the Torah describes a series of events in the wilderness, including the miraculous provision of food and water, the battle of Amalek, and the visit of Yitro. Through close reading techniques, including careful attention to literary and thematic connections linking these narratives, we will explore the ways in which the challenges and trials of living in the wilderness help prepare the people to progress from the revelation at the sea to the revelation at Sinai.
?Baal Tzafon
Yam Suf (2)
Yam Suf (1)
Yam Suf (3)
Yosef and the Splitting of the Sea
Rabbi David Silverberg
The War Against Amalek
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
In what way was Amalek so much worse than any of Israel's other enemies? What was the significance of Moshe keeping his hands raised throughout the war? Through an examination of the text we can understand that Amalek's war was, instead, the calculated plan of a nation coming to disrupt and thwart God's plan concerning the nation of Israel. We can also learn about two different models of leadership- the model of Moshe as a representative of God and that of Yehoshua, as the natural future leader of the next generation.

Moshe and his staff change from being tools to accomplish God's great and overt miracles, and instead become means of expressing the hidden Divine providence that acts within the natural reality. Thus it is specifically this natural war that turns into an exceptional educational opportunity to mold the religious consciousness of this generation, already used to miracles. God's hand works not only in great miracles that are visible to all, but also guides the world in its everyday activities and provides for each individual and nation in accordance with its needs and its actions.
Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Cloud
Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot
How does God reveal Himself in the world? In this shiur we shall examine this manner of Divine immanence which comes to the world through concretization of God through some entity or phenomenon. We shall also try to propose new interpretations of a number of well-known biblical events that have at their center a revelation of God's glory.
Erev Shabbat BeShalach - A Quick Look at the Splitting of the Sea
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 13 minutes
At the beginning of the parsha is a pasuk describing Moshe taking the bones of Yosef along as Bnei Yisrael were leaving Egypt. The placement of this pasuk is seemingly strange. We examine a midrash that emphasizes this as a crucial component of the Splitting of the Sea miracle. The juxtaposition of Yosef's bones and Moshe at the Splitting of the Sea brings to mind parallels and insights about Yosef's life in Egypt and the Splitting of the Sea.
Beshallach - A Different Look at a Midrash about the Splitting of the Sea
Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 17 minutes
A familiar midrash explains that on the 7th day of Pesach, we don't say Hallel because God's creations were drowning. But a less - widespread midrash has a different reason for not saying Hallel: that Bnei Yisrael were still in peril. We examine the different viewpoints of these midrashim, suggesting that the destruction of evil is good, and that it may be acceptable to rejoice at the destruction of evil.
Beshalach - The Downfall of Enemies
Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 20 minutes
We will be investigating an interesting notion that many are familiar with: the question of rejoicing at the downfall of enemies. Is the oft-cited verse from Mishlei (Proverbs) about enemies like Pharaoh, or about something else entirely? We look at the concept of rejoicing after being saved and consider what might prevent people from doing so. We look at the story of Yehoshafat being saved miraculously in battle. We consider that evil being rooted out of the world should be a cause of rejoicing. Should we not rejoice at the story of the Splitting of the Sea and the Divine rescue of Bnei Yisrael from Pharaoh and his troops? The familiar notions must be re-examined.
The Splitting of the Sea and Moshe's 'Superfluous' Prayers
Rabbi David Silverberg
Ramban on Beshallach: Tze'aka - Crying Out
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 37 minutes
We will look at two different comments by Ramban on two different verses relating to the word “tza’ak” – to cry out. Bnei Yisrael were on the banks of the sea, on the cusp of freedom, when they saw Egyptians chasing them. Fearful, they cried out. What does “cry out” mean here, though?

There seems to be a contradiction. On the one hand, they are crying out to God – isn’t prayer a good thing? But on the other hand, they seem to accuse Moshe of leading them to the sea to die. What is going on here?

One possibility is that different groups had different reactions – different attitudes and different types of “cries.” Sadly, though, there can be a psychologically reality wherein people blame the person in the lower position. They may think “God is good, but his servant is messing things up.” That may be why the Torah emphasizes that, at the splitting of the Sea, the people “believed in God and in his servant, Moshe.”
Beshalach: What Does It Mean to Have Faith?
Rabbi David Fohrman |
After crossing the Sea of Reeds, the nation of Israel sings a song of thanksgiving - but curiously, Miriam then leads the women of the nation in a second song. Why? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman explores a famous midrash about the birth of Moses and explains what it means to truly have faith.

If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.
Parshat Beshalach Part 2: The Break from Egypt and its Culture
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag | 27 minutes
This podcast describes the reasoning behind God’s great miracle of the splitting of the sea. Not only did it serve as a punishment for the Egyptians, but also helped prepare the Jewish Nation for their encounter with God at Mount Sinai by breaking their slave mentality and transforming their fear of the Egyptian master into awe of God.

Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com
Parshat Beshalach Part 3: Splitting the Sea
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 36 minutes
This podcast describes the miracle of the splitting of the sea, and also discusses the roles and purpose of the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire.

Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com
Pesach Lesson Plan
Gila Chitiz
Lesson plan geared towards upper highschool level (11-12th grade) about the goals of the miracles surrounding the Exodus from Egypt. The lesson can be used as an independent study project or as a classroom lesson plan. The attached document contains the student copy; please see the accompanying teacher's guide for answers and additional notes.
The one who jumps in and clears the path
Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky
The Hands of Moshe: Towards a Phenomenology of Faith
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | Hour and 9 minutes
This shiur provides a reading of the story of the battle with Amalek found in Chapter 17 of Sefer Shemot. It attempts to develop a novel understanding of the story in light of a parallel between the story and another battle story, that of Keriyat Yam Suf, found earlier in the parsha. In doing so, the shiur also attempts to provide insight into the meaning of "emuna" in Sefer Shemot.

Sponsored by Daniel Ginsburg in Memory of his grandfather הרב אברהם מרדכי בן הרב שמואל אלחנן and his uncle חיים בן הרב אברהם מרדכי, who both dedicated themselves to educating the next generation of Jewish leaders.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מַה־תִּצְעַ֖ק אֵלָ֑י דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְיִסָּֽעוּ׃
Exodus 14, verse 15
אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃
Exodus 15, verse 1
נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃
Psalms 78, verse 12
לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃
Psalms 78, verse 42
חָטָ֥אנוּ עִם־אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ הֶעֱוִ֥ינוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃
Psalms 106, verse 6
בְּצֵ֣את יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם בֵּ֥ית יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב מֵעַ֥ם לֹעֵֽז׃
Psalms 114, verse 1
הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
Psalms 136, verse 1
וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַֽחִירֹ֔ת וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ בְתוֹךְ־הַיָּ֖ם הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר אֵתָ֔ם וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּמָרָֽה׃
Numbers 33, verse 8
וַתֵּ֛רֶא אֶת־עֳנִ֥י אֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְאֶת־זַעֲקָתָ֥ם שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ עַל־יַם־סֽוּף׃
Nehemiah 9, verse 9