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This week’s parsha is Parshat Beshalach. In the parsha, Pharaoh finally lets Bnei Yisrael leave Egypt, but soon after, the Egyptians begin to chase after the Jews. This is when the miracle of Kriyat Yam Suf happens. Hashem brings a powerful wind that splits the sea before Bnei Yisrael’s eyes, and they are able to escape from the Egyptians.

By doing the Ten Makkot, HaShem was able to prove to the entire world how powerful He is. So why now does He have to perform another huge miracle if the entire world was already aware of His existence?

Although the Jews witnessed the Ten Makkot, they were just spectators. The focus of the Makkot was on punishing the Egyptians. On the other hand, HaShem did Kriyat Yam Suf in order to perform a miracle for the Jewish people. Here they really felt a sense of direct salvation from HaShem. Chazal say that even the lowliest maidservant among Am Yisrael saw God more directly at Yam Suf than the prophet Yechezkel saw in his nevuot. In fact, it is only in the wake of Kriyat Yam Suf that Bnei Yisrael burst out in the song of Az Yashir, not as they were marching out of Egypt, as one might have expected (and as the movie Prince of Egypt inaccurately portrays). It was specifically upon feeling a direct connection with HaShem, and a sense that they had just experienced a personal miracle from Him, that they were overcome with emotion and felt the need to express it in song.

Similarly, Hallel is meant to be this kind of spontaneous outpouring of love and gratitude to HaShem. In fact, on Pesach, we say Hallel at night during the seder even though Hallel is normally said only during the day, because on Pesach night we feel as though we ourselves have just been saved and so we feel the same need to burst forth in spontaneous song to praise and thank God. This is also why we say Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut – we feel the same sense of joy and gratitude to God bursting forth and needing to be expressed in Hallel and song.

It could not be more perfect that we are here in Tzefat for this Shabbat, also known as Shabbat Shira because of the song Az Yashir that Bnei Yisrael sing in the parsha. Tzefat is known for being a spiritual place in which people connect to Hashem through art, music, and emotionally meaningful experiences. We look forward to spending this Shabbat singing and connecting with HaShem with all of you here in Tzefat.