by Rabbi Chaim Richman; The Temple Institute
Parashat Beshalach Exodus 13:17 – 17:16
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NOTE: Kol HaTor, in its commentaries on the weekly Parashot, endeavours to search for and accentuate the Torah Messages contained in the Parashot as applicable to the main Theme of Tanach of the Return of the House of Israel, i.e. the Lost Ten Tribes of Northern Israel and their Reconciliation with Judah to form the reunited 12-Tribed Kingdom of Israel.
Rabbi Richman’s commentary gives an in-depth review of the meaning of the abundance of ‘Water’ and its importance in this Parashah as in life generally.
KOL HATOR Commentary
The Miracle of the splitting of the Sea was a prophetic experience (providing yet another Metaphor) to give us a vision of the World to Come. “It provided a realization of G-d’s Salvation, not only for that time, but for every generation to come” – and surely, also for the End Time Final Redemption (Geulah) which we are now approaching?
The power and the life giving essence of water depict the Spirit of HaShem in our lives. We have to become vessels for His Spirit. The metaphor inherent in the message of our Parashah this week provides the life-giving guidelines for preparing ourselves for becoming living tabernacles for HaShem to dwell in by the Presence of His Spirit. This will be completely fulfilled when the multiple Prophecies of His establishing of a New Covenant with us on the Day of the Final Redemption will come true (according to Jer. 31 and related section of Scripture). This requires our compliance – so, we can now go forward, proving our Faith in His Promises by applying our zeal for His Cause, proven by our ACTIONS. In this way we can prepare ourselves for His Great Calling for us to become His Living Tabernacle in which He can dwell amongst His People when He returns His Shechinah (Presence).
Zech. 14:8 records how, in that Day, Living Waters will flow forth from Jerusalem. HaShem Himself is the Source of these Living Waters causing His Presence to be flowing forth throughout the World. It is for this reason that HaShem is preparing His ‘Servant’ who will be rewarded in the Final Redemption with the full indwelling of HaShem’s Spirit, to become a LIGHT unto the nations. In this way He will be returning His Presence (Shechinah) to live in His People as a Living Tabernacle.
