Two Minute Torah Podcast

7th Day of Pesahh 5768 by Barry Mael

Shalom! My name is Barry Mael. I am the Chief Service Delivery Officer of the United Synagogue. Welcome to the KOACH 2-minute Torah, a project of the college department of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. I am speaking to you today about the 7th day of Pesach SHVII shel Pesach and it is a wonderful part of the holiday. It is reported that the 7th day of Pesach was the actual day of the splitting of the sea and the Jews being freed from the Egyptians. As we read in the Parshat Beshalach we see that the Jews are trapped up against the water, the Egyptian army is closing in on them and they are getting very panicked and there is a sense of chaos in the camp.

Moshe as he was used to do, looks to God in prayer. However, God says to Moshe, Mah Tizak Alei?

Why do you cry out to me? Go speak to your people. Tell them to go forward into the water and I will save them. Reach out your staff and I will take care of the rest.

However, there was a Jew in the camp by the name of Nachshon Ben Aminadav of the tribe of Judah and as the famous Midrash tells us Nachshon said, follow me. He walks into the water and walks in up to his nostrils, at which point the waters begin to split. The people follow behind Nachshon on dry land to the other side, and then as the Egyptians follow them into the water, the winds change and the water comes back and drowns the Egyptians.

We learn the lesson that while prayer is very important, that God helps those who help themselves.

Hag Sameach