Torah Portion of the Week
Building Character through the Themes of the Weekly Torah Portion
וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת־הָעָם וְלֹא־נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה׃
Vai-hi b’sha-lach Par-oh et–ha-am v’lo–na-cham E-lo-him de-rekh e-retz P’lish-tim ki ka-rov hu ki a-mar E-lo-him pen–yi-na-chem ha-am bir-o-tam mil-cha-mah v’sha-vu Mitz-rai-mah.
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had sent out the people, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said: “Lest the people reconsider when they see war, and they return to Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17
Beshalach means “when he sent”—and contains an incredible story of leadership and heroism.
Only seven days after leaving the confinement of Mitzrayim (Egypt), the Children of Israel found themselves at the edge of the Red Sea, trapped between the water’s edge and the fierce Egyptian army thundering towards them. Afraid, they cried out to Moses, wanting to know what they should do.
Then, one brave man, Nachshon Ben Aminadav, the head of the Tribe of Judah, stepped up to the plate—and right into the sea. As he began to walk into the water, it first reached his ankles, then his knees. Nothing happened. He continued onward, and the water reached his waist, his chest, his shoulders, then his neck. Still, the water didn’t split. By now, he must have been feeling challenged, and pushed to the limit. Yet his faith remained strong and he continued to move forward.
As 2–3 million Jews watched, Nachshon stepped deeper into the water, as it covered his mouth and went up to his nostrils. Then and only then, at the final moment before the water would have swallowed him whole, God intervened, and the Red Sea split. Nachshon’s brave actions allowed the Children of Israel to pass through on dry land.
Stepping Into Leadership
What do you do when you’re faced with adversity, difficulties? Do you take the leadership role, or do you shrink back into the confinements of “Mitzrayim”? If you look at adversity through the proper lens, you’ll see that it can stretch you to your fullest potential. Adversity teaches you to listen and find solutions. When adversity occurs in your life, your reaction determines whether it is a barricade or a bridge to your future.
Nachson’s courageous leadership is an inspiration and reminder that we all have the potential to become great leaders and accomplish great things, even (and especially) in times of adversity. The greatness in you is greater than you imagine. All you have to do is take the first step.
Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words
| a | [a] as in arm |
| ai | [ai] as in Thailand |
| e | [e] as in red |
| ei | [ei] as in eight |
| i | [i] as in ski |
| o | [o] as in score |
| oi | [oi] as in oil |
| u | [u] as in rule |
| ui | [ui] as in gluing |
| ch/kh | [ch] as in the Scottish loch |
| g | [g] as in good (not as in giant) |
| tz | [ts] as in hats |
| ‘ | short “eh” or “uh” sound |
The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash®
