Sunday evening we begin celebrating the final two days of Pesach, known as Shvii Shel Pesach (Seventh Day of Pesach) and Acharon Shel Pesach (Final Day of Pesach) respectively. It will mark 3,336 years to the day the Jewish nation stood at the Red Sea, with the Egyptian army bearing down upon them with nowhere to escape.
At dawn G-d commanded Moses to lift his staff, a mighty wind blew the sea apart, the Jews crossed the parted sea on dry land while the Egyptians who chased after them drowned in its turbulent waters. It was quite a scene that made international headlines at the time and is considered one of the grandest miracles ever displayed by G-d. The grand finale of almost a year long process to securing the freedom of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery.
While we give thanks to G-d for those tremendous miracles, there is another part of the dramatic story that played out that night which has practical relevance to every Jew today.
Pinned against the roaring sea by the bloodthirsty Egyptian army, the Jews were paralyzed by fear, indecision and worst of all fragmentation. Some insisted on fighting the Egyptians while others moaned it was time to drown themselves at sea both preferring death over going back to slavery. One defeatist group even suggested returning to their wretched slave lives they had just left one week earlier while a more hopeful group claimed it was time to pray to G-d for salvation.
In response G-d told Moses all four groups were wrong. “Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to travel!” At the liberation the Jews were told they were headed to Mt. Sinai in order to receive the Torah. Why had they stopped traveling?
Before anyone knew the divine plans for a miraculous sea crossing, one man took initiative. If G-d said to continue traveling to Sinai, the fact there was a raging sea in the way was of no consequence. Nachshon Ben Aminadav, the leader of the tribe of Judah, jumped into the sea and started walking towards Sinai. His tribe and many others followed his lead and soon there were thousands of Jews jumping into the water with the intention of moving closer to Sinai. When the water reached Nachshon’s nose, G-d instructed Moses to lift his staff and split the sea, and the rest is history.
That night Nachshon set the Jewish standard for Jewish self-sacrifice. He did not seek drama or fame. If G-d instructed to reach Sinai nothing, not even a raging sea would stop him from getting there. Today, more than ever, we are called upon to be like Nachshon. Many Jews are faced with challenges unprecedented in the modern world. Challenges to our Jewish observance, identity and pride.
May this anniversary of Nachashon’s heroic jump inspire us to keep moving in the right direction despite all odds, until we reach the ultimate destination, the arrival of Moshiach when peace and tranquility will reign for all.