Why did G-d Al-mighty split the sea? So that I might declare to everyone that this is my G-d and sing His praise.
And, thus reach every human being.
Last week, Jewish communities around the world read publicly in the synagogue the Torah’s account of the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (often mislabeled, the ‘Red Sea’). (Exodus 14:21 ff.). The sea split in a semi-circle and the Children of Israel exited on the same side that they had entered. The pursuing Egyptian forces were drowned in the Sea as it returned to its typical position.
After the Children of Israel grasped the miracle of G-d Al-mighty’s salvation of them from the pursuing Egyptians, they sang a song, known as the Song of the Sea. (Exodus 15:1 ff)
In verse 2, the Children of Israel declare their joy by using a word that both means, “this is my G-d, and I will build for Him a Holy Temple” and “this is my G-d, I will beautify Him, by telling of His Beauty and Praises to all the inhabitants of the world.”
This verse is explicitly directing us to tell the entire world of the Beauty and Praises of G-d Al-mighty, not merely hinting to us to beautify the performance of the Divine Commandments.1
The initial effect of this enthusiasm to let the world know is reflected in this week’s Torah portion, when Yisro (Jethro), Moses Our Teacher’s father-in-law, a non-Jew, comes to meet the Children of Israel in the desert at Mount Sinai in the time leading up to the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai by G-d Al-mighty and the loving Divine Commandments given the uplifting of all human beings.
What prompted him to come? Hearing about the splitting of the Sea of Reeds and the war with Amalek.2
His arrival was a necessary precursor to the Giving of the Torah because the Torah message is for every human being to know that you are lovingly created in G-d Al-mighty's Divine Image, and G-d Al-mighty cares about you what you do, and you make a difference, and here are the Torah commands that apply to you.
G-d Al-mighty’s intent is that this knowledge reach every human being.
So for the completion of the Torah, it must reach its ultimate destination. At the time of the Giving of the Torah, Yisro was a representative of the rest of humanity. And, in the final Redemption it will be every human being who will represent himself in his relationship with G-d Al-mighty and in the sole occupation of the entire world, to know G-d Al-mighty.
Keep spreading it forward!
Shabbos is coming, a reminder for every human being that they are an intentional creation of G-d Al-mighty right now and a continuing beneficiary of His Love, His Joy and His Abundance! What an incredible moment to increase even more in joy!
Action: Use the link above to check Shabbos Candellighting times in your city around the world. Shabbos Candlelighting time in New York City this week (2/2/2024) is 4:56 pm and Holy Shabbos ends at 5:58 pm.
Here is some of the learning we did this week:
These videos are available in the content library at RabbiSmith.org (in parentheses) and also on YouTube by clicking the name of the learning. When you watch on YouTube please like, share and subscribe so the message of hope reaches more and more people. See below at the end of this article a list of upcoming classes both in person and on Zoom.
This Week’s Learning
👉 Mitzvos Hashem Steif #87: Jews must honor non-Jews and appreciate goodness in exile; also Yud Shevat
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👉 Why Akeidas Yitzchok (the binding of Isaac) is relevant to all people
Upcoming Learning:
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👉Yeshiva Shem V'Ever
Shabbos Afternoon (Saturday) 3 pm Eastern
We will be learning Torah relevant to non-Jews with Jews and non-Jews.
Tanya: Sha'ar Hayichud v'HaEmunah - the Gate of Oneness and Faith
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👉Rabbi Steif Mitzvos Hashem
SUNDAY 7 am Eastern (1 pm Germany time)
Rabbi Steif wrote this holy book to avert the Holocaust by making sure that both Jews and non-Jews should know clearly G-d Al-mighty's rules for non-Jews.
👉Zecharia 8:23 - Prayer for non-Jews
WEDNESDAY 8:00 pm Eastern
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Thursdays at 8 pm Eastern
Actions:
Your actions make a difference, so take action! Speak to your neighbors!
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The two simultaneous meanings of the word bring to the forefront that the ultimate fulfillment of building for G-d Al-mighty a Holy Temple, is when every human being recognizes G-d Al-mighty as the loving source of their existence at every moment. G-d Al-mighty declares through the prophet Isaiah (56:7), that My House will be called a House of Prayer for all the nations, referring to the Holy Temple in the Holy City of Jerusalem. In other words the completion of the building of the Holy Temple is found in the state of mind of all the inhabitants of the world.
Yisro recognized the miracle and also recognized that Amalek was coming to cool of the enthusiasm captured in the Song of the Sea and to bury and confuse the memory of G-d Al-mighty’s miracles for the Children of Israel with the goal of depriving the world as a whole of this message of hope. So he understood that on see Amalek’s attack, that he too, a non-Jew, was under attack and the only response that would ensure his spiritual and physical well-being for him and his family was to connect to the Giver of the Torah, G-d Al-mighty, the Children of Israel, and the Torah teachings that apply to every human being.