Living Inspired
Parshat Beshalach reminds us that the key to a lasting connection is discipline and effort, not just occasional bursts of passion or motivation.
Shabbat Parshat Beshalach is known as Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, named for the Az Yashir, the song the Jewish people sang to God at the shores of the Red Sea after He split the sea for the Jews and drowned the Egyptian army. This spontaneous act of praise and gratitude is considered by our sages to reflect the highest level of emunah/faith and spirituality that the Jewish people reached to this point. The Mechilta writes that the simplest person who witnessed the splitting of the sea experienced more of a revelation than the greatest of our prophets. The first 58 verses, exactly half of Parshat Beshalach, depict this miracle and its impact on the Jewish people's faith.
In dramatic contrast, the second 58 verses of the Parsha tell us about the Jewish people’s abrupt fall from grace: They complain bitterly about conditions in the desert, carping about the water and the food. They repeatedly question why God would take them out of Egypt only to die in the desert. They even begin to doubt God, asking "הֲיֵשׁ ה’ בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ אִם־אָיִן” [Is God present among us or not?]. The Sages teach that the loss of faith among the Jewish people made them vulnerable to attack by Amalek. Prior to this episode, such a threat was considered unfathomable, since all other nations feared the Jewish people. How can we account for this precipitous decline in the Jewish people's standing?
I believe that we can find some insight into the failure of faith among the Jewish people if we examine the story of Eliyahu Hanavi at Har Carmel (Melachim 1 ch. 18), where he challenges the idol-worshiping prophets of the Baal idol to a test of divine power. This confrontation is widely regarded as one of the most pivotal events in Jewish history. Despite hours of fruitless effort, the idol-worshiping prophets receive no response to their prayers, but after Eliyahu's prayer, a fire from heaven descends and consumes his offering. That awe-inspiring demonstration of God's power prompts the Jewish people to prostrate themselves and declare, in the words we cry out during our final prayer on Yom Kippur, "Adonai Hu HaElohim," or "Our Lord is the only true God."
However, when the evil queen Ezevel receives word of Eliyahu's accomplishments, she sends him a message, threatening, "I'll kill you tomorrow." Eliyahu is stunned by her threat, despite his awareness that Ezevel is an evil monarch who should not be expected to change her ways. Why then is he shocked? According to my Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Yaakov Weinberg zt’l, the answer lies in Ezevel's use of the word "tomorrow." She understands that although Eliyahu is a hero at the moment and seemingly untouchable, his fame is ephemeral. Soon, everyone will move on from the miracle, and she could kill him without protest. Eliyahu is devastated when he realizes that she is right: A spectacular miracle may protect him in the present, but it can never bring lasting change.
The splitting of the Red Sea is a powerful example of how inspiration, while important, is not enough to sustain commitment. The Jewish people's fall after the miracle at the Red Sea teaches us that our relationships with God, Torah, and Judaism can only be solidified through consistent daily actions, not simply by experiencing moments of dramatic inspiration. Parshat Beshalach reminds us that the key to a lasting connection with Torah and Judaism is discipline and effort, not occasional bursts of passion or motivation. To build and maintain meaningful relationships, we must be diligent in our daily behavior and stay focused on our goals. Shabbat shalom.