At the end of our Parshah we have the story of the attack of Amalek on the Jewish people. A fascinating midrash connects this incident to what has gone before: the complaints over water, leading to the question: ‘is G-d among us or not’? This, says the midrash is like a son on a journey with his father, riding on his father’s shoulders. Everything the son wants is provided for by the father. They then meet a man who asks the son the whereabouts of his father. The son replies he doesn’t know. The father, in consternation, then removes his son from his shoulders to the ground, where a dog comes and bites him. Similarly, G-d protected the Jewish people in the wilderness, providing all their wants. They then ask ’is G-d among us? He removes His protection and Amalek attacks them, causing them to cry out for G-d’s aid. The key to this midrash is, I believe, the fact that the boy is being carried on his father’s shoulders. He is thus not always immediately aware of what his father is doing for him. He doesn’t see the hidden hand of his father protecting him. Only when that protection is removed and he is bitten, does he realise the truth of the situation. So it is with G-d and Israel. ‘The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers or sleeps’, G-d is constantly looking after the Jewish people. Many attacks and stratagems of our enemies are foiled without us even realising it. Even more is this true of the numerous small miracles that we experience in our individual lives. Yet this is often hidden. We do not appreciate the hand of G-d that protects and sustains us. We take too much for granted, until it suddenly isn’t there anymore. Because we often ignore what G-d actually does for us and question his presence in our lives, G-d occasionally removes that presence. When G-d truly hides His face, we are then left exposed to the bites of dogs and the attacks of enemies. We only then realise the true extent of the Divine protection we enjoyed all along. This is the lesson of the midrash and the story of Amalek. We need to appreciate the blessings we enjoy before they are taken away. We should be grateful for what we have while we enjoy it, not only appreciating it when it is gone. We should seek G-d when He is close at hand, not only discovering Him when in extremity because He has left.
ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS
Rishon |
Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues the Israelites, who are trapped by the Reed Sea. |
Sheni |
Moses quietens the frightened people. |
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Shelishi |
G-d splits the sea to allow the Israelites to cross. |
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Revi’i |
The Egyptians follow and are drowned as the sea returns. Moses and Israel sign a song of triumph. |
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Chamishi |
The people complain of lack of food, so G-d gives them Manna and quails. |
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Shishi |
The people are taught about Shabbat through the Manna but take time to learn. |
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Shevi’i |
The people complain about water, so Moses hits a rock. Amalek attacks and is annihilated. |
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Haftorah |
Judges: 4;4-5;31: the defeat of the Hatzor and Deborah’s song of triumph. |
Sidra Statistics
Parshat Beshalach
· has 116 verses ;
· is the 4th in Exodus, 16th in the Torah
· 6th longest in Exodus, 23rd longest in the Torah
· has 1 neg mitzvah.
