Parsha Beshalach
January 31, 2026/13 Shevat 5786
This week’s parsha of Beshalach is special in that it is given the appellation “Shabbat Shira” the Sabbath of Song. In fact, there are two – one for the men led by Moses, the other for the women led by Miriam and accompanied by drums and dancing. The song of Moses is in our daily prayers, known as the Shirat Hayam (The Song at the Sea) or Oz Yashir, the first words of the chapter. Why is the song so important that we give this Shabbat a special name? Furthermore, the first words “oz yashir” means “then Moses and the Children of Israel chose to sing.” What is meant by presenting the song as a choice?
Firstly, the importance of the song is noted by the Midrash where it states that this is the first time the Torah records a song of praise. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had cause to sing a song of praise, but this is the first time, through divine inspiration, that the Children of Israel opted to demonstrate their gratitude in a song of praise. The Children of Israel even preceded the angels in singing this song.
So clearly up to this point in history, song was not a necessary or even the primary mode of prayer. What changed was the people. No longer were we a collection of individuals. The power of music and song brings people together and at the Sea, the Jewish people became a Nation and sang together as one. The Talmud (Sotah 30b) cites Rabbi Meir as saying that even the fetuses in their mothers’ wombs joined in the song!
There is a difference of opinion in how this took place, but it was in some manner of a Chazzan (Moses) and congregation (the Children of Israel) in responsiveness. Though we don’t know the tune they used or with certainty how the song was sung, through divine inspiration, Moses, Miriam and the Children of Israel introduce song into our prayers in a way we still utilize today, as certain phrases of the song are repeated by the congregation during the Torah reading.
I frequently play Jewish music on our long drives (I will also admit to being a country music fan). One time my son asked me, “is all our music focused on prayer?” The answer is usually yes. As Jewish people our inspiration for Jewish music is nearly always from our faith, though Jewish musicians have achieved world renown in the secular world – from Benny Goodman, Irving Berlin (not sure of his inspiration), Bob Dylan, the Beastie Boys, Country Yossi (sort of country LOL), or the Al-Kuwaiti brothers (one of whom is widely credited with founding the Iraqi maqam genre of music), and countless others.
So let us celebrate our musical heritage in shul this Shabbat. If you have a new (or old) tune, please share. This parsha is about harnessing the mystical powers of music, so let’s enjoy this Shabbat of Song!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
Firstly, the importance of the song is noted by the Midrash where it states that this is the first time the Torah records a song of praise. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had cause to sing a song of praise, but this is the first time, through divine inspiration, that the Children of Israel opted to demonstrate their gratitude in a song of praise. The Children of Israel even preceded the angels in singing this song.
So clearly up to this point in history, song was not a necessary or even the primary mode of prayer. What changed was the people. No longer were we a collection of individuals. The power of music and song brings people together and at the Sea, the Jewish people became a Nation and sang together as one. The Talmud (Sotah 30b) cites Rabbi Meir as saying that even the fetuses in their mothers’ wombs joined in the song!
There is a difference of opinion in how this took place, but it was in some manner of a Chazzan (Moses) and congregation (the Children of Israel) in responsiveness. Though we don’t know the tune they used or with certainty how the song was sung, through divine inspiration, Moses, Miriam and the Children of Israel introduce song into our prayers in a way we still utilize today, as certain phrases of the song are repeated by the congregation during the Torah reading.
I frequently play Jewish music on our long drives (I will also admit to being a country music fan). One time my son asked me, “is all our music focused on prayer?” The answer is usually yes. As Jewish people our inspiration for Jewish music is nearly always from our faith, though Jewish musicians have achieved world renown in the secular world – from Benny Goodman, Irving Berlin (not sure of his inspiration), Bob Dylan, the Beastie Boys, Country Yossi (sort of country LOL), or the Al-Kuwaiti brothers (one of whom is widely credited with founding the Iraqi maqam genre of music), and countless others.
So let us celebrate our musical heritage in shul this Shabbat. If you have a new (or old) tune, please share. This parsha is about harnessing the mystical powers of music, so let’s enjoy this Shabbat of Song!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
