This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shirah, as the Torah portion, B’Shalach, features Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. However, Psalms Midrash Rabbah observes that the Song of the Sea is the first sung to God in the Torah. Neither the first humans, nor Noah, nor the patriarchs or matriarchs offer songs in return for Divine favor. Only after crossing the sea does music appear, as Moses and the Israelites offer words of song to God. But there is more than one song offered at the banks of the Sea of Reeds. Immediately after Moses and Israel sing, Miriam picks up her drum and leads all the women of Israel in dance and in song, chanting: “Sing to Adonai, for God is exalted above the highest heights. Horse and driver God has hurled into the sea.” The song duplicates the opening line of the Song of the Sea, [...]

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shirah, as the Torah portion, B’Shalach, features Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. The Song, comprising eighteen verses, features a unique layout within the Torah scroll. The lines alternate between one type that begins and ends with one word with a phrase centered in between, while the other type features phrases at the beginning and end of each line. Each blank space marks the end of a single breath of music. According to the Talmud, the format resembles bricks, although others have likened it to waves. This format is reserved only for select, ancient pieces of poetry. It reappears within the Song of Deborah, found in the Book of Judges, as well as David’s Song in the Second Book of Samuel. By now, it’s almost impossible to think about the song without its iconic layout, which predates the Talmud. Nevertheless, the first surviving manuscript to [...]

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shirah, as the Torah portion, B’Shalach, features Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea.The song takes delight in the demise of Egypt, who is depicted as an arrogant foe planning to overtake and subdue Israel. The song remarks that the Egyptians “sank like lead in the great waters.” Like a victory cheer, the song emphasizes God’s prowess, even referring to God as a “Master of War.”For such a famous song, Jewish tradition appears somewhat conflicted about its content. One midrash famously criticizes the angels for celebrating the Egyptians’ demise, stating, “My people are perishing, and you sing praises?” Meanwhile, the Book of Proverbs remarks, “If your enemy falls, do not exult; if he trips, let your heart not rejoice.”However, the song remains a central element of Jewish tradition, chanted daily as part of the traditional morning liturgy and sung annually on Shabbat Shirah. Though our tradition teaches [...]

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shirah. The Torah portion, B’Shalach, features Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea, which celebrates the ultimate triumph over Egypt, as the Israelites walk through the Sea of Reeds on dry land toward freedom. I’ve often heard storytellers envision the powerful drama of the crossing;, inviting listeners to imagine themselves at the sea, passing between the waters, perhaps even looking for sea creatures suspended within the waves. Watching the waters hovering, listening to the waves roaring, smelling and tasting the salty air, and feeling the mushy mud between our toes helps transport us into the majesty of this transcendent moment. But what if, absent vision, we couldn’t see the waters hovering? What if, absent hearing, we couldn’t hear the waves roaring? What if, absent speech, we stood by and watched as Israel rejoiced together in song, without us? Even miracles cannot erase the hardship of disability. As [...]