Shabbat Shira 5768

Shabbat Shirah and (pre-Tu Bishvat), January 19, 2008
By Rabbi Joseph Lukinsky, Jewish Theological Seminary

Former Rabbi and Educator, KI



This Shabbat, Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song, we read Parashat Ha-Shavua, the Torah Portion, of Beshallah, which contains the Az Yashir Mosheh..., the Song that Moses and the Children of Israel sang at the Red Sea. In modern times, it has been the occasion for the celebration of Jewish music, even the start of "Jewish Music Week."



When we come to that section of the Torah reading, we stand, to give testimony to the miracle, as if to affirm that it happened then and also, somehow, that it is happening now. It's a great moment in the year's reading! We demonstrate, by standing, that no matter how we feel endangered in our lives, backed against the wall, we do not give up hope. There is always a chance that the "sea will split" for us, [and for the Jewish people!] and that we will pass through safely on dry land, a powerful metaphor. In our own lives we take part in Israel's challenge at the Sea.



It may not always happen, perhaps most of the time, but it could. And sometimes, as in the example of Nahshon ben Aminadav, who in the tradition, jumped into the sea to show his faith before the Sea split, it is a statement that we too can persevere in times of difficulty, to make something happen. A beautiful and glorious Parashat Ha-Shavua!



But wait! Shabbat Shirah? The very name "Shabbat Shirah" is somewhat of a misnomer, Yes, the "Song" is a highlight, but the Parashah as a whole is disturbing in almost everything else, for it is mainly about the complaints and backslidings of Israel. How was this possible after they had experienced the wonder of the crossing of the Red Sea?



You would think that after an awesome miracle such as the splitting of the sea, they would have been willing to follow God and Moses anywhere.



But, shortly after, they complain to Moses about the lack of water!!

They get tired of eating manna, and they want meat.

They are told not to leave the manna over until the next morning, but many do save some; maybe there won't be anymore the next day and they'll starve! They are told not to gather it on the Shabbat, but they do.



We would have thought that, after witnessing the miracle at the sea, they would have trusted that they would have water, and manna, and in general be safe from harm's way! It's a compelling statement about human nature, very human. "What have you done for me recently?" "That [the crossing at the Sea] was then, but this is now!"



It is interesting that when we stand for the aliyah containing the song, we stand through the end of the aliyah where the people's complaints and misgivings begin. It seems to be an intentional construction of the aliyah which ought to have ended after the song. By standing to the end of the aliyah, we juxtapose the Song at the Sea and all the complaints, and we see this linkage as existentially meaningful, an expression of that human nature which we all share.



Shabbat Shirah indeed!



In Parashat Beshallah, Mosheh Rabbenu learns what it means to be a leader. He learns how to deal with the difficulty of leading the Jewish people. He doesn't get discouraged. He learns from that experience that nothing achieved is necessarily permanent. Songs are followed by complaints. You have to renew the inspiration. Which reminds me of what a colleague once told me: "Education is the only field where re-inventing the wheel is good." You can never rest on assumptions based upon what happened before.



Sing the Song that Moses sang, but, at the same time, remember that it is hard to maintain exaltation! The real world and human nature are ever present, and we tend to forget. This is one of the tasks that Jews face, and the remembrance of Shabbat Shirah and the mitzvot ofJudaismhelpustodoso.



This week, on Tuesday, we will also celebrate Tu BiSh'vat (the 15th day of the month of Sh'vat). It became a holiday when some creative Jews decided to turn a "cutoff date" for certain agricultural laws into a holiday. In the Diaspora it became a day of longing for Eretz Yisrael. I remember as a little boy in Chicago, seeing the snow fall through the windows of our basement Hebrew School room and being told by our teacher, as she passed out raisins and nuts and bokser [St. John's bread], that it was Tu Bishvat, the New Year of the trees and the beginning of spring in Eretz Yisrael. Our bodies were cold, but in our hearts it was spring.



Happy Shabbat Shirah. Happy Tu Bishvat!