Parshas Beshalach (Shira) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
ויסע משה את ישראל מים סוף ויצאו אל מדבר שור וילכו שלשת ימים ולא מצאו מים ... (טו-כב)
It is known how important it was to Hashem for the Yidden to leave Mitzrayim with phenomenal wealth and riches, a promise that had been made to Avraham Avinu at the Bris Bein Habsarim. The question is: Why was it necessary to happen this way? Furthermore, Chazal tell us that "גדולה היתה ביזת הים מביזת מצרים", the spoils at the Red Sea were even greater than the spoils of Egypt! What was unique about the ביזת הים? Was it merely greater in monetary value?
The Bris Bein Habsarim was formed because of Avraham Avinu asking, "במה אדע", how could I be certain that future generations will exist? Several animals were sacrificed, split in half, and Avraham and Hashem “walked” through them. In addition, a bird was offered but left whole. Chazal reveal that Avraham’s question lacked an element of Emuna on his level, and Shibud Mitzraim resulted from it. How can we understand this if, after all, our original forefather is the pillar of Emuna?
R’ Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer zt”l explains that Avraham Avinu understood his own life to be a symbol of the lives of his descendants. As the only person of his time who sought Hashem, he was hated by the world and even faced attempts on his life. Avraham realized that his children, the smallest of the nations, were destined to face the same fate. From the moment we accepted the Torah on Har Sinai, the other nations have harbored hatred toward us and sought our destruction. Avraham did not doubt that Hashem would bestow blessing, rather he questioned how we would survive in order to receive that blessing.
Hashem replied that the key to our existence is unity. As long as the bird, symbolizing the Jewish people, remains whole, we possess achdus and are untouchable. This is why ביזת הים was so essential. When the Jews were impoverished slaves, unity came easily. Who could truly hold an opinion and what was there to fight about? But after they attained wealth and profound spiritual clarity, "מה שראתה שפחה על הים לא ראה יחזקאל בן בוזי" and still remained united, that was true achdus.
Today, in a world of comfort and abundance, we must preserve genuine unity to endure galus until Mashiach arrives.