Kriat Yam Suf

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June 08 2004
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Editor's Note: The following is based upon HaRav Drillman's weekly parsha shiur given in Shevat of 5745. BGK


Shemos 14:15 - Hashem said to Moshe, "Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the B'nei Yisrael and let them move on.


The Torah tells us that when Klal Yisroel found themselves trapped between Paro's army and the Yam Suf they prayed to the Ribbono Shel Olam for salvation. HKB"H told Moshe that it was improper to pray at this time. Instead, Moshe Rabbeinu should direct Klal Yisroel to go forward into Sea and at then HKB"H would save them. HaRav Drillman asked why tefilloh was an inappropriate course of action at this time? After all, do we not always look to the Ribbono Shel Olam in times of crisis? It would appear that this would have been a much better course of action then traveling into the Sea.


HaRav Drillman cited an answer to this question that he heard from Rav Elchonan Wasserman, zt"l hy"d. Reb Elchonan cited his rebbe, Reb Chaim Brisker as quoting the following in the name of Reb Chaim Volozhiner, In essence, HKB"H was telling Moshe that the salvation of Klal Yisroel was dependent upon this test of Emunah and Bitachon. The Ribbono Shel Olam wanted to present Klal Yisroel with the challenge of following his instructions without discussion. He had already decided that B'nei Yisroel would be saved as soon as they demonstrated their faith in Hashem. Until this Klal Yisroel had not actually had their commitment to HKB"H tested. They had never had to actually commit to anything until they stood at the banks of the Yam Suf. Their act of commitment was to be putting their faith in HKB"H into practice by entering Yam Suf before the waters actually split. It was for this reason that HKB"H told Klal Yisroel to stop their tefillos as there was no point in further prayer, only in acting on their Emunah and Bitachon in the Ribbono Shel Olam's promise to them.


Shemos 14:22 - "And the Children of Israel came through the sea on dry land."


Shemos 14:29 - "And the Children of Israel went on dry land through the sea"


HaRav Drillman was bothered as to why the Torah switched the words "dry land" and "sea" in these two passukim. Citing his ancestor and namesake, the holy Noam Elimelech, he answered as follows: When Klal Yisroel were traversing the Yam Suf they witnessed the awesome miracles done by HKB"H on their behalf. The people found that they were able to walk through the Yam Suf as if they were walking on the dry ground. It was the contemplation of these marvels that brought them to an even higher spiritual madraigah, level, then they had been on previously. It was at this point that the people were able to appreciate that all of nature is as much of a miracle as the splitting of the Yam Suf.


We mean to say that such a madreigah is referred to as walking on "dry land through the sea" because when one is on dry land, in other words carrying on their ordinary, daily, life, only then can one see themselves as if they were crossing through the Yam Suf. Only then does the miraculousness of Nature become as evident as the splitting of the sea.


Chazal tell us that there are three things that are as difficult for the Ribbono Shel Olam, k'vayachol, as the performance of Kriyas Yam Suf: providing a person with food, finding a person's zivug, marital partner, and the keeping the functioning of a person's body in a proper manner. What does this mean? HaRav Drillman explained that if we work a little harder to see the miracles in these "everyday" occurrences then we will be better able to rise to the Madreigah of seeing HKB"H in every aspect of our lives and being able to come closer to Him.

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    Learning on the Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah site is sponsored today by Judy & Mark Frankel & family l'ilui nishmos מרדכי בן הרב משה יהודה ע"ה and משה יהודה ז"ל בן מאיר אליהו ויהודית