Beshallach: It's the Same Old Song

In Parashat Beshallach, freedom is at last on the horizon.  After ten plagues and horrific destruction within Egypt, Pharaoh has relented and granted the Israelites permission to leave.  Of course we, as omniscient readers, know what awaits: just as the Israelite camp is beginning to feel confident about their exit from this place of oppression, Pharaoh has a change of heart and sends his army and charioteers to pursue his newly released slaves and bring them back.

Yet after this harrowing chase, the Israelites emerge victorious on the opposite shore of the Sea of Reeds, their pursuers having drowned in the sea.  The people are so grateful to have emerged from the water safely that they sing a song of rejoicing, the so-called Song of the Sea that is at the heart of this week's portion.

The text begins with the phrase "Az yashir Moshe u'v'nei Yisrael," often translated as "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang..."  But the verb form yashir can also indicate future tense, leading some classic commentators to opine that not only did the community sing then, rejoicing at this personal moment of redemption, but our people will once again sing at a future moment of redemption, when all peoples of the world know true freedom.

We are taught, "B'chol dor va-dor chayav adam lir'ot et atzmo k'ilu hu yatza miMitzrayim.-- in every generation, we must view ourselves as though we personally went free from Egypt."  I take that to mean (and I'm hardly the first or only to bring this interpretation) that in each age we must maintain gratitude for our freedom and not take it for granted.  Further, we must fight for justice and freedom everywhere, so that all may enjoy the blessings of liberty.  As we continually revisit this Song of the Sea through our liturgy and our scriptural readings, let us fully embrace and embody the universality of its message.

Otherwise, it's just the "same old song."

Please note, I do not own-- nor do I claim to own-- these songs.  Copyrights are held by the various artists.  I include them here for illustrative purposes.
It's the Same Old Song- (Beshallach, Exodus 13:17-17:16)

Music and lyrics by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, performed by The Four Tops. From "Four Tops' Second Album", Motown, 1965.