The Seminary where our daughter attends during her gap year in Israel has been closed for Pesach since the second week of March. In fact, most of the Seminaries and Yeshivot in Israel give 3-4 weeks of “vacation” to their students. Rather than leaving the students completely on their own, our daughter’s seminary offered them a variety of “outside” class experiences including backpacking through a region in Israel or taking the Magen David Adom (Israel’s Red Cross) first responder certification program. Our daughter chose to study for her certification with Magen David Adom (the Red Cross). When I asked her why she wanted to spend her Pesach vacation taking this incredibly intensive class, she explained that it is important to have life-saving skills because one never knows. She also reminded me of a section of Talmud from the Tractate Kiddushin 29a. The Talmud discusses the four obligations that 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). My daughter reminded me that such an obligation should probably be applied to raising a daughter as well. So my daughter explained that acquiring such skills not only helps her but could potentially help another.
This Shabbat is also the Seventh Day of Pesach. As we continue our celebration of Pesach, the Torah reading continues the narrative of the Exodus. We read of the miracle of Kriat Yam Suf (the Crossing of the Reed Sea). Already out of Egypt and now pursued by the Pharaoh's army; B’nai Yisroel finds itself stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place. Before them lies the Reed Sea, and behind them, the Egyptian Army continues its pursuit. Panicked, these former slaves believe that they have two choices: death by drowning or death at the hands of the Pharaoh's army. Moshe, too, appears at wit’s end. Unsure of how to proceed, he 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 mustered enough courage and they crossed the sea. Upon their successful arrival onto the other side, Moshe and B’nai Yisroel break out into song praising God’s strength, love, and protection.
The Talmudic Sages in the Tractate Sotah 36a credits the great- great- grandson of Judah, Nachshon Ben Aminadav, as the first person 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. At the moment he was to sink or float, the waters opened 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 first responder, 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. Yes, our daughter had to get her apartment cleaned for Pesach. However, her Pesach preparations also included first aid, CPR, artificial respiration, treating wounds, broken bones, spinal injuries, and other medical emergencies that might very well save someone’s life. There was classroom instruction, there was experiential learning (practicum), and there numerous hours of studying every day. After two weeks, several days before Pesach began, she was supposed to take an exam. A few days before her exam, nervous and anxious she called her mother. She reminded our daughter that she has done all the work, put in an enormous amount of effort, and now needs only to have faith and jump into her exam. Right before Pesach, having passed the exam, she sent us a picture with her Magen Adom jacket posed in front of a Magen David Adom ambulance.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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