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By Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky,
B’nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica

Translated by Inés Baum - Proofreading by Ellen Zindler

The Torah reading for the seventh day of Pesach develops around the story of the Yam Suf (Red Sea) crossing, which according to tradition occurred on this day. Just before this great miracle, the Torah describes the crossroads faced by the Jewish people, trapped between the powerful Egyptian army behind them and the water before them. It was a moment of uncertainty, reproaches, and distress.

Based upon a problematic verse (Exodus 14:15), our sages deduce that Moses, desperate before such critical situation, prayed to the Eternal for help. The Midrash, quoted by Rashi, explains how God got angry with Moses and said to him: “Why do you cry out to Me? This is no time to pray at length, when Israel is in distress. Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel.” This verse teaches us that, although praying occupies a central place in Judaism, there is a time to pray and a time to act. Problems and crises cannot resolve themselves just by praying; we are expected to move into action.

Another midrash recounts that, when the people at last understood that their salvation depended on their determination to march forward, the possibility of drowning kept them terrorized, and nobody dared to take the first step. It was then that Nachshon ben Aminadav, one of the princes of Israel, began to walk towards the water. The moment his body started to sink, the miracle of the parting of the water was produced. That is to say, God “did His part” just when He saw that the children of Israel would do theirs too.

We are able to recognize an essential concept of Jewish tradition in these two midrashim, which is that of being “God’s partners”. The Torah proposes that we live a life in partnership with the divinity. It is true that, to a pious Jew, it is really important to pray and have faith in his Creator, but it is no less important to be creative human beings, exercising our entire potential in life. It is worthless to pray with absolute devotion if we do not accompany our prayers with actions, so that our requests may come true.

Maybe the best example we can find regarding this idea is the creation of the modern State of Israel. Throughout 2000 years, Jews fervently prayed to God for the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel, but with almost no concrete actions on their part. It was not until the Zionist movement emerged as a real option, that Medinat Israel became more than just a dream. God helped us set up this contemporary miracle, but only when we decided to act, so that this miracle could become a reality.

Being partners with God means paying attention to the injustices committed in our world and having the courage to try to change the situation. Our tradition endows us with valuable tools towards that goal. Let us recall, on this holiday celebrating freedom, that God did not part the waters until someone decided to begin walking. God expects us to help Him in his task, to walk on His side for the recreation of a better world… more human, more divine.

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Forwarded by Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik, from Kol Shearith Israel Congregation, Panama.
Translated by Inés Baum and proofread by Ellen Zindler, from B’nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica.

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