From The Rabbi’s Study…April 2, 2021/20 Nisan 5781/Omer 5
The Torah Reading and Haftarah for the Seventh Day of Passover
(Exodus 13:17-15:26; II Samuel 22) Counting the Omer Day five and Saturday will Omer Day six (Sheaths of grain) on the 49th and 50th is Shavuot!
The Torah reading describes Israel’s experiences following the exodus. Pharaoh mobilizes the Egyptian army and begins his pursuit of the fleeing Israelites. When Moses and the children of Israel reach the Red Sea, Moses raises his rod, the waters split apart, and the Israelites are miraculously saved. When the Egyptians reach the water, they become bogged down, sink to the bottom, and drown. Moses and the children of Israel sing a magnificent song of thanksgiving.
The Haftarah connects to the theme of the song of thanksgiving. In the Haftarah, David composes his own song of thanksgiving to G-d for all of his victories and deliverance from the enemy. While II Samuel has two famous quotes that reference what G-d did for our ancestors.
The first quote, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.”
(II Samuel 22:2)
The second quote, “ A tower of salvation of His king; Who shows mercy to His anointed,
to David and his heirs forever.” (II Samuel 22:51)
The last two days of Passover Jewish people make two more seders to celebrate reaching Mount Sinai and that the Lord delivered Israel that day from the Egyptians (Exodus 14:30 -15:21). Many Jews just do the first two seders to celebrate Passover, the time that the Israelites became a free nation.
This Passover the world still is struggling with this pandemic. Many people have received their vaccinations, many still are waiting and there many that will not receive a vaccination(due to health issues, religious issues or age). During the exodus many people journeyed through the desert and struggled with the challenges and the CHANGE of their living conditions. Slavery and harsh treatment with taskmasters was indeed MAROR/Bitter. Today, the Bitterness comes in a myriad of forms. Whether struggling with isolation, lack of your favorite foods or traveling to be with family and friends. Today, we are blessed with modern technology to join our people for seders.
Our ancestors were scared of their future, and today many have fears, too.
Slowly, the Israelites journeyed to Canaan to have their freedom, and slowly, we will also journey forward to get our freedoms back, DAYENU!
Harbeh Sovlonut/ Have Patience and NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!
Look forward to our weekly Shabbat Zoom Services with you. Stay healthy!
Shabbat SHalom v’Chag Pesach Sameach,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
