(This was presented at Temple Beth-El Las Cruces, NM as the sermonette at "A Night with Judaism," a service to which congregants invited friends. relatives and neighbors and which was open to the community)
Some
of us are preparing to watch the sporting event of sporting events, the Super
Bowl, on Sunday. There are those of us
who will really watch the game, those who will watch the gems of advertising in
the breaks between each set of downs, and others who will revel at this year's
musical performer, Madonna. Reports are
that she will sing her song “Holiday” and possibly “Ray of Light,” a song
inspired by her interest in Jewish mysticism.
Still others will go to Super bowl parties primarily to be with friends
or family. As a Kansas City Chiefs fan, I
haven't been rooting for my own team in the Super Bowl since 1970. Still, watching that Chiefs 23-7 win over the
Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV with my dad and his brothers Harry and Jacob
at their place - they had the color TV - is a great personal and family
memory.
In
our annual cycle of Torah readings, the passages assigned to this week and next
week combine to be the Super Bowl of portions.
Instead of Madonna singing, we get Moses and Miriam. Instead of the Patriots and Giants, we get the
Israelites and the Egyptians. Instead of
two great coaches, we have God directing Moses this week and Moses' father-in-law
next week offering advice about delegating.
Instead of razzle dazzle plays, incredible catches, astounding runs and
amazing defense, even quarterback sacks, we have the parting of the Sea as the
centerpiece of the first of these portions and, next week, there is thunder,
lightning and an overwhelming divine voice presenting to Moses and the Israelites
the great trophy of ethical teaching, the two tablets of the Ten Commandments.
But there was no Sinai experience
without first crossing the sea, the section that we are about
to read. We likely know the story well. The Israelites
were by the Red Sea or, some say, the Sea of Reeds. The Egyptian were pursuing them and closing
in. Moses raised his staff, but the sea
wouldn't part until the people actually started to walk into the sea to prove
that they had faith that the waters would part so they could cross on the sea
bed. The wind swirled up, the waters
split, and the Israelites crossed to the other side where they were safe. They turned and watched the Egyptians enter the
sea, only to have the wind stop and the waters fell back to their normal state,
catching the soldiers of Pharaoh in the depths of the sea. The Israelites were astonished, and both
Moses and Miriam began to sing. Miriam
and the women took up their timbrels and sang to God in gratitude for this
great saving act, expressing their feelings very freely. One commentary explains that Moses had to
think for a moment about how to respond to this miraculous event. He let a song rise from the depths of his
emotions as well, but not only because of what he saw with his eyes. He realized that the people had shown a
glimpse of their internal spirit of optimism by entering the sea. The passage before the song says that the
people believed in God. The song at the
sea, for Moses or Miriam, wasn't just exultation. It was a song of affirmation that moving from
slavery to freedom was possible, inspired by a God who loves freedom and justice.
The celebratory Song at the Sea, SHIRAT
HAYAM, took note of the deaths of the Egyptians, but we are taught not to
rejoice in their demise. The rabbis of
our tradition imagined that angels in heaven were shouting for joy as the
waters fell onto the Egyptian army and the Israelites were saved and free. God gave the angels a quick rebuke, saying,
"My children – that is, the Egyptian soldiers- have died, and you sing praises?" From this one explanation or midrash, we learn that it’s best that we not derive
joy out of the defeat of our enemy or someone we don't like. This is a lesson we can put into practice in the
realms of sports, politics, and in our relationships throughout our lives.
As we
listen to the song at the sea, with some of the verses chanted with a special
melody, may it represent for us a thoughtful and heartfelt exprssion of
gratitude for our freedom. It is that
freedom that allows us to root for whomever we want on Sunday and then, like
the players, to shake hands at the end and return to being one people moving
from life on the field to life in our world that can give us so many gifts
every day, including friendship, understanding, healthy competition, true
liberty, and, finally, peace. So may it
be - let us say amen.
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