Making Miracles Happen
D’var Torah for Parashat B’shalach
By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman
When we speak of “the Rabbis,” we generally refer to the early (1st-3rd centuries CE) leaders of the Jewish People, scholars of the Torah who adapted Judaism to a new, post-Temple era. Some of them are famous—and rightly so: Rabbi Akiva, whose students numbered in the thousands; Hillel and Shammai, whose decisions on Jewish law still stand to this day; and many others whose maxims, teachings and sayings are preserved in the Talmud and Midrash.
In at least one midrash related to this week’s Torah portion (B’shalach, Exodus 13:17-17:16), we can clearly see the hand of the Rabbis as they transform the familiar story of the Exodus, adding what they see as a missing element.
As told in the Torah, not long after they leave Egypt, the Israelites find themselves trapped. The Red Sea is before them; the chariots of Pharaoh are quickly catching up from behind; an endless desert extends to one side of the camp, and a deep chasm opens on the other. Not for the first time, and certainly not the last, the bewildered Israelites complain, accusing Moses of leading them not to freedom, but rather to die in the desert. Moses, in turn, prays to God, and God tells Moses to hold his staff out over the Red Sea. Next thing we know, the Sea parts and the Israelites cross over on dry ground.
So goes the story in the Torah. The Rabbis, however, have more to say about this. In a famous midrash, the Rabbis tell that in their panic, the Israelites began to bicker about who should go first into the Red Sea. While they argue, the chieftain of the tribe of Judah, a man named Nachshon ben Aminadav, takes matters into his own hands and leaps into the sea. And it was at that precise moment, says the midrash, with God causing a mighty east wind to blow, with Moses’s arm and staff extended over the Red Sea, and with Nachshon diving into the water, that the sea parted.
The addition of Nachshon ben Aminadav’s heroic act is a teaching moment. What the Rabbis tell us here is that our actions matter. God may do God’s part; our teachers and prophets also do all they can—but without our own active participation, these are not enough. We—ordinary men, women and children—cannot be merely beneficiaries of God’s blessings. We too an important a role to play in making miracles happen.
This is one of the key innovations that the Rabbis introduce into Judaism. The Torah’s lesson is that, as long as the Israelites fulfilled their ritual duties, God would respond favorably. The rain would come in its season, the earth would yield its bounty, and as certainly as the sun comes up in the morning, the people would gather the grain, new wine and oil.
Once the Temple was destroyed however, the entire system collapsed. Sacrifices could no longer be offered, and the once-sure blessings of God now seemed doubtful.
And that’s where the story of Nachshon ben Aminadav comes in. What the Rabbis taught is that while faith in God is integral to Judaism, the work of our own hands is just as vital.
In the larger picture of Jewish history, we can see many miracles. Our very survival despite all odds is a miracle unto itself. However, in daily life, our deeds can determine the course of events. What we do matters. We can’t rely only on God. We must be active participants in making miracles happen. It’s a powerful lesson for all of us.
© 2022 by Boaz D. Heilman
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