blogs/rabbi-huberman

The rabbis of the Talmud disagree with producers of the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, or more recently, with the writers of the 1998 animated movie, The Prince of Egypt.

Who was the first person to “really” step into the Sea of Reeds?

If you guessed Moses, you are partially correct. For Moses’ staff orchestrated the event.

But, Jewish tradition tells us that a lesser-known figure was actually the first to lead the Israelites. And without this true hero, perhaps the crossing of the sea would have never taken place.

His name was Nachshon, a prince of the tribe of Judah.

The Torah tells us in this week’s parashah, Beshalach (“When Pharaoh let the people go”), that soon after liberation, the Israelites found themselves pinned between the advancing Egyptian army and the forbidding sea.

At that point, the Torah tells us, Moses and the people begin to pray…and pray…and pray.

After years of slavery — of having their fate and their actions controlled by a higher power — they pour out their hearts. “Greatly frightened, they cried out to the Lord.” (Exodus 14:10)

But God appears confused. As the Torah recounts, God asks Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15).

Moses and the people turn their sights to the crashing waves, but understandably, no one takes a step. 

Enter our unsung hero — Nachshon.

As the Talmud tells it, "When the Israelites stood at the sea, one said: 'I don't want to go down to the sea first.' Another said: 'I don't want to go down first either.' While they were standing there, and while Moses was praying to God to save them, Nachshon, the son of Aminadav, jumped up, went down and fell into the waves."  (Sotah 36a).

Other accounts describe Nachshon walking into the sea up to his nose. Faced with the choice of turning back or advancing, Nachshon chooses the latter.

At that point, the seas parted, and as they say, “The rest is history.”

Our Sages conclude that there are times when thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. Only when Nachshon takes the initiative, does the eastern wind, created on the sixth day of creation, complete its historic mission. All because Nachshon stepped forward.

This is one of my favorite scenes in the Torah, because it teaches us that sometimes the most profound moments of our lives occur after we make the choice to act.

Throughout our eternal journey, the Jewish people have never played it safe. We take chances, we even fail, but ultimately, ours is a story of risk and optimism, grounded in a healthy dose of faith.

Between 1901 and 2020, about 900 Nobel prizes were awarded, with about 20 per cent earned by Jews. But, we make up only 0.3 per cent of the world’s population.

Our Sages remind us that each of us has something amazing and unique to contribute. But too often, we are the authors of our own inaction.

Would there have been a State of Israel if thousands of pre- and post-World War II Jews had not pursued the vision of Theodore Hertz, who wrote in 1896, “If you will it, it is no dream.”

How many times have we experienced a miracle — perhaps in meeting the person who would eventually become our life partner, or through a chance encounter that led to a new opportunity — all because we had the courage to say, "Hello?"

Conversely, how many people just wait for God to make the next move — and that miracle never comes?

I was recently discussing this Torah portion with my cousin, Rabbi Yisroel Roll, who posed the question, “Why is it that the National Geographic and Life magazines tended to get the best and most incredible pictures?”

He answered, “Because their photographers had the courage to advance over safe lines. When the signs said, ‘do not enter,’ they did not walk away — rather they safely moved forward towards that waterfall or mountain.”

Friends, no one claimed that life was going to be easy. Our Sages tell us that life involves taking chances, climbing, moving a bit out of our comfort zone — even failing from time to time.

Yet, through our spiritual and physical journeys, we — as individuals and as a people — continue to step into risky, sometimes uncharted, waters. For on the other side, as each of us has experienced, there exists a Promised Land of joy and liberation.

There is a bit of Nachshon in each of us. He reminds us that life’s miracles surround us each day, with many more to come. We just need to take that initial step.

Hollywood movies comfort us. They generally offer happy endings. They tend to make us feel calm and secure as the closing credits roll.

But real life is a bit more complex. For when we stop growing, if we become a bit over fearful of getting wet, our journey remains forever stranded on the shore.

This week’s Torah portion and the first steps of Nachshon inspire us to ask: “What will our next step be?”  

There is always more to do. There are always more ways to grow. Ultimately, rather than praying and asking God, “Why?” we can make our own miracles happen.

All we have to do is take that first step. 

And the rest of life will follow.

Shabbat Shalom, v’kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

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