Parashat HaShavua - BeShalach

וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן אֶת־הַתֹּף בְּיָדָהּ וַתֵּצֶאןָ ל־הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת׃
(שמות ט״ו:כ)

Miriam the prophet, the sister of Aharon, took a drum in her hand and all of the women went out after her with drums and other instruments. (Exodus 15:20)

In the middle of the wilderness, where did the women get their instruments from?  Rashi quotes the Mekhilta in response:

מֻבְטָחוֹת הָיוּ צַדְקָנִיּוֹת שֶׁבַּדּוֹר שֶׁהַקָּבָּ"ה עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם נִסִּים וְהוֹצִיאוּ תֻפִּים מִמִּצְרָיִם

The women were so certain that God would make a miracle for them [to free them from slavery] that they brought musical instruments out of Mitzrayim

I try to imagine what it might be like to have that kind of faith. At the stroke of midnight, in the darkest part of night, on the heels of the death of the firstborns in Egypt, the women chose to tie a scarf around their drums and timbrels and throw them over their shoulders, ready to carry them through the wilderness in anticipation of the moment of redemption. Somehow, they possessed a faith that enabled them, even in the lowest, darkest moments, to envision a time when there will be cause to sing and dance and celebrate.

Today is the 112th day of captivity.  Twenty four soldiers were killed this week, as well as countless Gazan civilians.  It is a dark moment in a very long night.  I know that I am part of a people that has been able to keep faith in very dark times.  But I am struggling.  It is hard for me to envision what those first rays of dawn might look like.  And so I do what I can.  I pray.  I act in whatever ways are available to me.  And I yearn for faith.  I am not there yet.  But I can at least look to Miriam and her sisters as guides. 

Rabbi Anne Ebersman
Director of Jewish Programming N-5 and Director of Hesed (Community Engagement) and Tzedek (Social Responsibility)