Seventh Day of Pesach; Exodus 13: 17 15:26, Numbers 28:19-15 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger
On the Seventh Day of Pesach we read a special torah reading from the book of Exodus. Interrupting our regular weekly cycle of Levitical readings, we go back to the story of the Exodus and in these final hours of the holiday read aloud the story of the parting of the Red Sea from Parshat Beshallach.
At the beginning of the holiday around our Seder tables we reenacted the events that finally changed the mind of the Pharaoh. We poured out the ten drops of wine reminding us of the Plagues that God sent each time Pharaoh refused permission for the Hebrew slaves to leave. We recalled the backbreaking work of our ancestors and the sun-dried bricks and mortar they utilized in their building projects by eating charoset. We recalled their sweat and tears by dipping the greens of spring into salt water and we tasted the bitterness of their situation through eating the marorthe bitter herbs, most commonly horseradish.
But the story doesnt end with the slaying of the first born of Egypt. In many ways the story and the journey to freedom only begins. And this Shabbat, which coincides with the seventh day of Pesach, is dedicated to the miracle of the parting of the waters, the rescue of the Israelites and the final blow to the Egyptians.
God picks the route of the Exodus telling Moses exactly the direction and the places they should encamp. And then, Pharaoh again as been his habit, changes his mind, and decides that he should not have released the Israelites from his service. Thus he gathers his army to pursue them and give chase.
Israel has the sea in front of it and now the Egyptian army with its mighty chariots closing in from behind. The Children of Israel were frightened. Where were they to turn? What were they to do? They question Moses and their fears rise to the surface.
This is a moment that the magic of miracles will bring the Children of Israel to their moment of deliverance.
And so Moses lifts his staff out over the waters and the Sea splits into two halves and the Children of Israel walk safely to the other side before the walls of water come crashing down upon the Egyptian army.
This miracle, recorded in not only in the narrative but also then in the poem of Exodus 15 glorifies the power of God to confound the enemies of Israel. The celebration of dancing and rejoicing of the Israelites at their deliverance is what we celebrate on the seventh day of Pesach. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron leads the dancing and jubilation of the Israelites.
There are some who wonder if these events actually happened. They go to great lengths to try and find scientific explanations for the plagues, and for the parting of the waters. They search for clues from other ancient documents for any mention of the Hebrew slaves that escaped from Egypt. They diligently try to make rational sense out of the miracles of the Torah.
For me however, I am less concerned with whether or not this story actually happenedbut with the power of the message of Pesach and particularly the power of the message on this seventh day.
The message is that God does deliver us from our enemies and that God does provide safe passage for us from slavery to freedom to a life of service that we committed to at Sinai. For me the power of this teaching is True enough. When we place our faith in God, while living a life filled with mitzvotwe build a great expanse of personal freedom and healing that extend to us, to our families and to our world.
Happy Passover.
Posted by Lee at April 26, 2005 02:04 PM
