Parshat Beshalach

Dear STOCS Friend:

The Jewish people are standing at the shore of the Sea of Reeds.  They are paralyzed by the sight of the Egyptian army led Pharaoh and numerous chariots quickly approaching.  Fear grips the newly freed slaves and some even desire a return to Egypt's bondage. 

Moshe responds to the crisis with a deep prayer to Hashem.  The response he receives from Hashem:  מַה⁠ תִּצְעַק אֵלָי “Why are you crying out to me” is quite striking. God continues and says:  Speak to the Children of Israel and journey forth! Rashi explains that  “when the Jewish people are facing danger, prayer is not the answer.”

The takeaway from this episode is the need for action. Do not underestimate the importance or necessity of prayer.  Rabbi Shlomo Riskin writes:  “God works through human actions in the process of redemption. We must believe in God, but we must also believe in ourselves. And the most meaningful prayer is one in which we ask the Almighty to help us garner our inner strength, courage, and wisdom so that we may be able to help ourselves.”

To go one step further Rabbi Gerstein writes: “Faith and faith alone is not enough to sustain the Jewish people; when it is not paired with concrete actions, we fall short of fulfilling our national destiny. Just like the Jewish people on the edge of the Sea, it is incumbent upon us all to find the strength to follow our faith through with concrete action, to be the “do-ers” of our generation.”

To sum up, Judaism is made up of those who pray and those who act.   Combining both elements is the best way to achieve true Avodat Hashem, the worship of Hashem.

To all: Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Evan Shore