During the winter months, we
encourage our son to engage in some kind of Sunday activity, preferably of the
physical variety. Whether he took snowboard lessons (which he did two winters
ago), or played basketball (several winter seasons ago); we didn’t really care.
We just wanted him to be doing something rather than sitting around all day. Our
son always enjoyed swimming; this past winter he also grew intrigued by the
idea of military operations that dealt with search and rescue missions. Whether
the U.S. military or TzaHaL (the Israeli Army); he liked watching and reading
about this types of missions. So I wasn’t terribly surprised when he asked to
sign up for swim classes that would prepare him for ultimately becoming a life
guard through the Canadian Red Cross. Because of his age, he is still not eligible
to sign up for the actual Life Guard course. Undeterred, he decided to take the
Pre-Life Guard courses. He completed the Bronze Star and the Bronze Medallion
courses. The latter course he finished a couple of weeks before Pesach. Now, in
the midst of Pesach and in the middle of his Pesach vacation, our son has been
reminding me to sign him up for the next level of Pre-Life Guard courses:
Bronze Cross. When I told him to remind
me after Pesach, he grew quite irritated with me. First, he pointed out that I
am always reminding him of the Talmud Tractate Kiddushin 29a which and the four
obligations a father has in terms of raising a son. One of those obligations is
teaching his son to swim (since it might save his life). Impressed that my son
had actually listened, I began to answer him. However he quickly cut me off and
reminded that nothing would be more appropriate than to sign him up as Pesach
drew to an end and we read Shirat HaYam
– the story of the Kriyat Yam Suf (the Crossing of the Reed Sea).
The Seventh Day of Pesach, we
continued the narrative of the Exodus, and read of the miracle of Kriat Yam Suf
(the Crossing of the Reed Sea). Already out of Egypt and now pursued by the
Pharoah’s army; B’nai Yisroel finds itself stuck between the proverbial rock
and hard place. Before them lies the Reed Sea and behind them is the Egyptian
Army and it all of its chariots. These former slaves are panicked and thinking
that they are about to die. Moshe, too, appears at wit’s end and, unsure of how
to proceed, begins to pray on both his and the people’s behalf. VaYomer HaShem El Moshe - God says
to Moshe Mah Titzahk Eilai Dabeir El B’nai Yisroel V’Yisau – speak to the Children of Israel and let them
journey forth (Ex. 14:15). Eventually, B’nai Yisroel musters enough courage
and they cross the sea. Upon their successful arrival to the other side, Moshe
and B’nai Yisroel break out into song praising God’s strength, love, and
protection.
The Talmudic Sages in the Talmud
Sotah 36a credit the great- great- grandson of Judah, Nachshon Ben Aminadav,
Aaron’s brother in law, as the first one into the Sea. However, the Sea did not
open when Nachshon put his foot into the water. Nor did the sea part when he
was knee deep, thigh deep or waist deep into the water. Undeterred, and
apparently full of a profound and simple faith in God, Nachshon continued to
wade into the water. The water covered his chest, his shoulders, his neck,
chin, face and soon he was completely submerged. In the moment he was to sink
or float, the waters open up. B’nai Yisroel followed and they made their way
across. While the Midrash doesn’t suggest that Nachshon actually swam at all,
certainly he was the ultimate lifeguard, risking his life to save B’nai Yisroel
from their own spiritual paralysis.
Nachshon’s
courage in the Midrash, teaches a valuable lesson about faith and freedom. No
matter the difficulty, no matter the pain, sadness and grief, there is a path
across the Yam Suf. That is not to say that we may not be bruised, scarred, or
damaged in some way. It only means that crossing our own sea gives us an
opportunity for a future. Staying back, remaining paralyzed, succumbing to our
fears, guarantees no future and remaining enslaved. Indeed, freedom is all
about a sense of tomorrow, the future and possibilities. How could I deny my
son’s pleading and his reasoning? I signed him up just before these last days
of the Pesach. I signed him up knowing that he doesn’t suffer from any
spiritual paralysis. I signed him up knowing that his positive outlook is a
manifestation of his deep faith in God and in the words we sang at the Seder table:
Dayeinu. Whatever we have in our lives, it is good enough.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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