Shabbat Shira
As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L
The Song of the Sea is read from the Torah every year when the weekly Perashah is read, and it is read on the seventh day of Pesach, and it is recited daily in our prayers; and so it shall be until forever. The spectacle of the splitting of the Sea of Suf gave an impetus to Israel and causes them to go forward until the end of time.
The episode of the splitting of the Sea of Suf afforded one of the most stupendous spectacles in history. The mighty waters which Israel had feared more than they feared Pharaoh, now parted and piled up to shield them like crystal walls on both sides of the uncovered sea-bottom; and Israel, protected by the walls of water against the darts and javelins of Egypt, marched across on the dry path.
It was a never to be forgotten day of G-d. All of Nature was in turmoil because its Master was marching with his children. The pillar of cloud which preceded them now moved back to intervene between Israel and Egypt. At the end of the night, fire and cloud descended upon the pursuing army which was now in the middle of the sea-road, whereas Israel had gained the opposite shore. The chariot wheels of Egypt burned off. Now they exhorted each other to flee for their lives, for they saw that G-d was fighting against them for Israel; but it was too late. The trap was sprung; G-d bade Moses stretch out his arm to send the mighty walls toppling down upon the pursuers, who sank to the bottom like lead, while Israel stood on the shore electrified by the spectacle. The sea which had threatened Israel with a worse fate then Pharaoh’s wrath, had rescued them from their enemy; and it now washed up on the shore a huge wealth of booty.
“This is my G-d and I will adorn Him.” (15:2)
The word “this” denotes clarity of perception and True Knowledge, as if they were viewing the Shechinah and pointing to it with the finger, for such was the elevated level of knowledge of Hashem which they gained at that wondrous spectacle of the splitting of the Sea.
“This is my G-d.” The word for G-d here is the Alef and Lamed (Kel), which denotes “strength” (as in Beresheet 31:29). 1) He alone is my G-d of strength 2) and He is for me alone (”My G-d”).
Therefore I pledge my gratitude and love to Him “and I will adorn Him.” I will praise and glorify Him in such manner to demonstrate that He alone is beautiful, and beside love of Him nothing else deserves to be loved as beautiful. And only that which has connection with His Torah and with His service is beautiful.
The only beautiful men are those who are faithful to His Torah. Therefore I will adorn His Mitzvot; a beautiful Lulav, beautiful Sisit, a beautiful Sefer Torah. We do not adorn Him (i.e. give Him beauty) but we thereby demonstrate that we recognize His beauty, because we constantly consider His ways of kindliness and wisdom and we see how beautiful are His attributes.
This is the vow which our nation made at the Sea. And now this vow is being fulfilled by the genuine Jewish nation to this day.
Quoted from “A Nation is Born” and “Behold a People” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L
Shabbat Shalom
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