There were so many song choices that pertain to this week’s parsha, Parshas Beshalach – Shabbos Shira. I listened to a quite few of them when deciding what to post. The parsha is packed with all kinds of relevant ideas and with famous and significant events, on a cosmic, global, national and even individual scale.
But in the end, I focused on one of the most memorable acts of emunah that you’ll find in the entire Tanach. I am referring to those brave steps of Mesiras Nefesh taken first by the Nasi of Shevet Yehudah, Nachshon Ben Aminadav, and then by the rest of Klal Yisroel.
The Torah describes a fledgling nation, frightened and distraught as they stood on the banks of the Yam Suf. On either side, desert, and wild, howling animals blocked the way. In front of them was the sea, behind them the Egyptian Army. 200,000 foot soldiers and 50,000 men on horses, led by Pharaoh himself. Above the army hovered the heavenly angel of Egypt. The situation looked bleak, to say the least.
Moshe told the people to not be afraid but to go forward into the sea as Hashem would save them. No tribe wanted to be the first to go into the water, but then everyone saw what happened next. One man, Nachshon, heard the command and without hesitation, jumped into the sea. The Jews on the beach watched as the water reached his waist, then his shoulders, then his nose! Then, at the last moment…well, you know the rest of the story. The greatest open miracle that has ever occurred unfolded before their eyes.
This is why we have chosen the title track of Lipa Schmeltzer’s album Leap of Faith from back in 2012. The tune was composed by Yossi Green, with the Yiddish lyrics written by Lipa and the English lyrics written by Moshe Lax.
Sometimes in life, each of us are faced with situations where we feel our backs are against that huge, immovable invisible wall. We just CAN’T get past it. With nowhere to turn to but Up, He tells us to just take that seemingly impossible step. We then watch in wonder at how He removes the obstacles that were there just moments before, as we walk, easily, on dry land to the other side. It’s that “Leap Of Faith” that catapults us to new and formerly unattainable heights.
The most impressive part is, when we look back to see that mountain that we just climbed or that chasm we just leaped across, we see that they were not as large and imposing as we had thought. Our challenges are put there not to get in the way, but so that we can use them to grow – as long as we take that leap.
Wishing everyone a Miraculous Shabbos of Song!
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