24 January 17 • 2019
jn

P

haraoh changed his mind 
and, with his army, chased 
after the Israelites. 
The Israelites were petri-
fied. There were soldiers 
behind them and a sea in 
front of them. It seemed 
hopeless.
“Adonai said to Moses, 
‘
Why do you cry out to 
Me? Tell the Israelites 
to go forward.’
” (Exodus 
14:15) In the midst of fear 
and uncertainty, go for-
ward. Despite an unclear 
future, put one foot in 
front of the other. Believe 
in yourself. Believe in your 
God. 
“You [Moses] lift up 
your rod and hold out 
your arm over the sea and split it, 
so the Israelites may march into the 
sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:16) 
Moses lifted his rod and divided 
the seas. Israel crossed safely. 
Rashi taught, “Their ancestors’
 
merits and their own, and the faith 
that they placed in Me so that they 
left Egypt, will suffice to divide the 
sea for them.” Our deeds and our 
faith will divide the sea. They are 
the stuff of miracles. 
“Nachshon walked into the sea. 
The Israelites looked on with hor-
ror and amazement. ‘
What are 
you doing? Where are you going?’
 
Nachshon walked forward — up to 
his knees, his waist, his chest. The 
instant the water came up over his 
nostrils, the second he was fully 
submerged, at that exact moment, 
the sea split. The Israelites followed 
Nachshon to liberation.” (Sotah 
36b-37a, Mekhilta Beshallach 6, 
myjewishlearning.com)”
Why did the waters part for 
Nachshon? Because Nachshon was 
courageous; he chose to try, to act, 
to believe. He was willing to make 

a leap of faith. He took a risk, trust-
ed God and entered the sea. He 
jumped in and determinedly 
moved forward, slowly, with 
faith. Because he was brave 
and willing to do the right 
thing, we can walk behind 
him. Miracles can happen if 
we trust God and are willing 
to make the first step.
And Moses? Moses prayed 
for a miracle. God respond-
ed, “I can’
t help you. There is 
a time to say lengthy prayers 
and a time to act. Stop pray-
ing and do something or 
Nachshon will drown. Lift 
up your staff and part the 
waters.” Moses took action 
and a miracle occurred. 
Look around you. An 
entire community wants to help. 
You don’
t have to do it alone. When 
we have faith, but don’
t rely purely 
on that faith; when we are willing 
to get involved, to work to make 
a difference, we can make mira-
cles. When we look, we’
ll see so 
many ready to reach out and help, 
to hold a hand, to cry or laugh with 
us, to jump in with us. Molded by 
our faith and our willingness to be 
involved, we’
ve helped to create a 
modern miracle.
The portion encourages us to 
go forward, believe in ourselves, 
our community and our God; it 
teaches us to understand that our 
merits and our faith will suffice 
to divide the sea. May we take 
that leap of faith, moving forward 
to do the right thing, supporting 
and caring for each other. May we 
always remember to look up at the 
splendors all around us and not get 
bogged down trudging through the 
mud. ■

Rabbi Lynn Goldstein is rabbi of 
Congregation Beth El in Windsor, Ontario.

jews d
in 
the
section

Miracles Can Happen

Rabbi
Lynn Goldstein

Parshat 

Beshallach: 

Exodus 

13:17-17:16; 

Judges

4:4-5:31.

spirit
p

torah portion

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