Aliya Summary: Moshe stretched his hand over the sea and the waters that had been standing like walls now fell upon the Egyptians, drowning them all. Moshe then led the Israelites in song, praising G‑d for the wondrous miracle that had transpired. Miriam, Moshe’s sister, then led the women in song and dance, with musical accompaniment. The Israelites traveled on in the desert, journeying three days without encountering water. They then arrived in Marah, where there was water—but bitter water. Moshe miraculously sweetened the water.

Aside from the literal meaning of the text, this episode is considered an allusion to the primacy of Torah in the life of a Jew. Both Torah and water sustain life – spiritual and physical. In the same vein, “three days without water” resulted in our reading the Torah on Monday and Thursday, so that in our wandering in the spiritual desert of life, we will not go 3 days without spiritual water. This is but one “use” of the well-known analogy between Torah and water.

Aliya Summary: G‑d instructed Moshe, “Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel!” G‑d told Moshe to stretch out his staff over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites should then proceed through the split sea. “And the Egyptians shall know that I am G‑d, when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.” Meanwhile, the pillar of cloud that normally led the Israelites moved to their rear, insulating the Israelites and plunging the Egyptian camp into darkness. Moshe raises his hand above the Sea and G-d causes a powerful eastern wind to blow all night, followed by a parting of the waters. The People of Israel enter the Sea on dry land, between walls of water. The Egyptians quickly pursued them into the sea.

What was the purpose of the strong wind blowing all night? Could not G-d have split the Sea with the snap of a finger? The answer is: Of course. But the night’s preparation for the miracles of the day serve several purposes. A night to ponder what was going on, further enhanced the appreciation of the Children of Israel for what had happened, was happening, and was to happen.

Aliya Summary: The Israelites noticed the approaching Egyptian armies, and they panicked. “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert?” they screamed at Moshe. “Don’t be afraid,” Moshe reassured. “Stand firm and see G‑d’s salvation that He will wreak for you today . . . G‑d will fight for you, and you shall remain silent.”

It might be suggested that what is happening is a clarification of who took the People of Israel out of Egypt. Paroh actually thought that he let the People go – that he expelled the People from Egypt. G-d arranged to have Paroh run after them to make it clear to him – and to us – that G-d, and only G-d took us out of Egypt.

General Overview: In this week’s reading, Beshalach, Pharaoh pursues the Israelites into the desert. The Red Sea splits, the Israelites cross the sea while the Egyptian army is drowned. Moshe and the Israelites sing a special song thanking G‑d for this miracle. The Israelites complain about a lack of food and drink. G‑d sends Manna and quail for them to eat, and miraculously produces water from a rock. Amalek attacks the Israelites and is soundly defeated.

Aliya Summary: After Pharaoh sent the Israelites from his land, G‑d did not allow them to take the most direct route to the Promised Land, fearing that any confrontation would then frighten the Israelites, causing them to return to Egypt via this short route. Instead G‑d had them take the circuitous desert route, leading them with a pillar of cloud during daytime and a pillar of fire after dark. G‑d then commanded the Israelites to backtrack and encamp along the Red Sea. They would thus appear to be hopelessly lost, which would prompt the Egyptians to pursue them. The Israelites followed this instruction, and, indeed, the Egyptians armies set out after the “lost” and cornered Israelites.

Aliya Summary: The Israelites journeyed further and as they arrived in Refidim their drinking water ran out again. The Israelites complained, and G‑d instructed Moshe to smite a certain rock with his staff. Water came pouring out of the rock and the people drank. The Amalekites then came and attacked the Israelites. Moshe directed his student Joshua to assemble an army and battle Amalek. Joshua did so, and the Israelites were victorious—aided by Moshe’s prayer atop a mountain. G‑d told Moshe to record in the Book that He will “surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.”

What made Amalek so evil was that they exploited the (perceived) weakness of the Israelites to try and destroy them. While recording in the book to erase their memory sounds like an oxymoron, the point was to remember to never prey on the weak, for we were once weak too.

Aliya Summary: The meat, in the form of quails, appeared in the evening and covered the Israelite camp. In the morning, bread – called manna – fell from heaven, encased between layers of morning dew. Moshe told the Israelites to gather one omer (a biblical measure) of manna per household member every day. Miraculously, no matter how much manna one picked, he arrived home with precisely one omer per head. Furthermore, Moshe commanded the Israelites not to leave any manna over from one day to the next. Some disregarded this instruction, and next morning found their manna worm-infested. On Friday everyone picked two omers. Moshe explained that the second portion was to be prepared and set aside for Shabbat—when no manna would fall. Again some disregarded Moshe’s directive, and went out pick manna on Shabbat. G‑d was angered by this disobedience. G‑d instructed Moshe to take a jar of manna and place it in the (yet to be constructed) Tabernacle, as a testament for all future generations.

I believe this marks the first time that G-d is angered by the Israelites’ complaints, and it could be directly connected to the people’s being born into slavery. If they were used to being slavery, they should have no problem following orders, and no one should have collected the Manna on Shabbos. It was up to them to work on transforming their slavery habits of hoarding food for the future. Just because it’s in our nature to want to do something, doesn’t mean we should act on it. The challenge is to use our thought process to filter out those actions that aren’t appropriate. This is what the Israelites were asked to work on at this point in their transformation into a nation.

Aliya Summary: One month after the Exodus, the Israelites’ provisions ran dry. They complained to Moshe, mentioning nostalgically “the fleshpots of Egypt,” that they left behind. G‑d responded that He will rain down bread from heaven in the mornings, and meat will be provided every night.

Although on the surface the Israelites may seem ungrateful when they complain, it’s important to understand that they are going through a critical change in their lives. They were all born to slavery, and were used to complaining to their masters, and possibly eventually getting a small percentage of what they ask for. Now they find themselves needing food, and complain because it’s all they know. They receive food that tastes like whatever they want it to taste like. This too will be a foreign concept to them – having their opinion matter. Understanding, this is why G-d and Moshe don’t get upset at the complaints, and simply address the issue.

Aliya Summary: Moshe stretched his hand over the sea and the waters that had been standing like walls now fell upon the Egyptians, drowning them all. Moshe then led the Israelites in song, praising G‑d for the wondrous miracle that had transpired. Miriam, Moshe’s sister, then led the women in song and dance, with musical accompaniment. The Israelites traveled on in the desert, journeying three days without encountering water. They then arrived in Marah, where there was water—but bitter water. Moshe miraculously sweetened the water.

Aside from the literal meaning of the text, this episode is considered an allusion to the primacy of Torah in the life of a Jew. Both Torah and water sustain life – spiritual and physical. In the same vein, “three days without water” resulted in our reading the Torah on Monday and Thursday, so that in our wandering in the spiritual desert of life, we will not go 3 days without spiritual water. This is but one “use” of the well-known analogy between Torah and water.

Aliya Summary: G‑d instructed Moshe, “Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel!” G‑d told Moshe to stretch out his staff over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites should then proceed through the split sea. “And the Egyptians shall know that I am G‑d, when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.” Meanwhile, the pillar of cloud that normally led the Israelites moved to their rear, insulating the Israelites and plunging the Egyptian camp into darkness. Moshe raises his hand above the Sea and G-d causes a powerful eastern wind to blow all night, followed by a parting of the waters. The People of Israel enter the Sea on dry land, between walls of water. The Egyptians quickly pursued them into the sea.

What was the purpose of the strong wind blowing all night? Could not G-d have split the Sea with the snap of a finger? The answer is: Of course. But the night’s preparation for the miracles of the day serve several purposes. A night to ponder what was going on, further enhanced the appreciation of the Children of Israel for what had happened, was happening, and was to happen.

Aliya Summary: The Israelites noticed the approaching Egyptian armies, and they panicked. “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert?” they screamed at Moshe. “Don’t be afraid,” Moshe reassured. “Stand firm and see G‑d’s salvation that He will wreak for you today . . . G‑d will fight for you, and you shall remain silent.”

It might be suggested that what is happening is a clarification of who took the People of Israel out of Egypt. Paroh actually thought that he let the People go – that he expelled the People from Egypt. G-d arranged to have Paroh run after them to make it clear to him – and to us – that G-d, and only G-d took us out of Egypt.