Beshalach

In this parsha

As Israel departs, Pharaoh regrets freeing them and pursues with his army to the sea. Trapped at the water's edge, the people cry out, and God splits the Red Sea so they cross on dry land while the Egyptians drown behind them. Moses and the people sing the Song of the Sea in praise. In the wilderness they complain of thirst at Marah and of hunger, and God sends the manna together with the laws of Shabbos and its double portion, and water from a rock. The parsha closes with the war against Amalek.

Themes

• Faith blossoming into song
• The manna and daily sustenance
• Shabbos as a divine gift
• Prayer and crying out
• Living from God's every word
• The splitting sea reveals sovereignty

Must-read teachings

1. 1Redemption Reveals Divine ProvidenceIn the Midrash on “Then Moses sang.” The Sefat Emet cites the Midrash on the Song at the Sea as the starting point for his teaching. “Your throne is established from then…” even though from always Your throne [has existed]. The Midrash note…תרל"א
2. 2Two Levels of Faith“And they believed in the Lord and in Moses…,” although it also says in Egypt, “And the people believed…” The Sefat Emet asks why belief after the splitting of the sea is emphasized, since belief had already appeared in Egypt. But there are…תרל"ג
3. 3Faith as Following Divine GuidanceIn the Midrash it says to remember in prayer the Exodus from Egypt and the splitting of the sea. The Sefat Emet opens by referencing the Midrash that distinguishes between remembering the Exodus and remembering the splitting of the sea. And…תרל"ז
4. 4Inner Sustenance Through Faithful SightConcerning the manna — “so that they may see the bread,” etc. The Sefat Emet opens by explaining that the purpose of the manna was to teach Israel to perceive the true nature of sustenance. The Gemara states: “The blind eat and are not sati…תרנ"ד
5. 5Nourishment from Divine Speech“Behold, I am raining for you bread from heaven…” This means that the nourishment would be connected directly to its supernal root. Meaning: that the food would be bound to its upper root. The manna was not ordinary food; its essence was sp…תרל"ט
6. 6Manna and Tree of Life“Regarding the section of the manna.” The Sefat Emet introduces his teaching on the manna narrative. “Bread from the heavens.” The manna is described as heavenly nourishment, unlike earthly food. In the Midrash: “Come, partake of My bread.”…תרמ"ה
7. 7Two Dimensions of ShabbosConcerning the Exodus from Egypt and the splitting of the Sea, afterward “then Moses sang.” The Sefat Emet opens by explaining that the song at the Sea comes as the culmination of the redemption events. And in the Midrash: “She opens her mo…תרמ"ז
8. 8Manna Beyond All Change“In the section of the manna: Behold, I will rain down for you bread from heaven.” The Sefat Emet begins by framing the manna as a direct divine gift descending from above without human mediation. It is taught: The manna came in the merit o…תר"ס