My Partner in Torah and I just finished learning about kriyas Yam Suf (excellent timing, yes) and as I have found over and over since we started learning Chumash, the pesukim gave me great chizuk. I gained a lot from learning these pesukim and really visualizing and feeling the experience. Specific details will touch different people; I am struck by the image of Hashem sending a wind that effortlessly rolls up the sea into walls — it’s so breathtaking on both a physical/visual and metaphorical/emotional level.
We also learned a packet on Pesach, “Passover in 30 minutes or less,” by Rabbi Elazar Meisels. This excerpt adds such a beautiful layer of meaning to kriyas Yam Suf:
“It is amazing,” said R’ Simchah Bunim of Peshischa, “When the Jews stood boxed in between the Sea and the Egyptians, they hoped and prayed that the Almighty would come to their aid in one way or another. Perhaps He would cause the Egyptians to have a change of heart. Perhaps He’d empower the Jews to conquer them. Perhaps it would thunder and scare away the Egyptians. That the Sea would split and allow the Jews safe passage? That thought never occurred to them for one single instance. So it is with most of the salvations affected by the Almighty. We envision a natural means by which He can save us. Still, His ability extends far beyond our imagination, and He finds a means of doing, so that is undeniably His handiwork.”
As my mother says: “G-d doesn’t need my ideas.”
We have always known this on at least an intellectual level. But this year, we really get to experience it. In all seriousness, did anyone ever imagine Amazon Prime being brought down overnight? That’s just symbolic of what’s happening to everything familiar.
While at the moment our focus is on staying and keeping each other safe, shidduchim is there, at least on the back burner. Just like Hashem is fully in control of this situation right now and has orchestrated every detail for every person’s best, He is fully in control of shidduchim, parnassah, and any other nisayon in life. He will help you. He is helping you. And the answers may come in ways you couldn’t possibly have imagined.
For your reading pleasure, here are some thoughts on Pesach cleaning, matzah, and Ma Nishtana. Also on letting things ride, broken telephone, and keeping on. And if you’re having a quiet Pesach (wait, you too?), this article has some nice ideas.
Wishing you and yours a chag kasher v’sameach, wherever you are! This year in Yerushalayim!
