Parashat b’Shalach
B”H Dear families, What an exciting Parashah this week. In Parashat B’shalach we see the amazing parting of the Sea in the dramatic rescue of the children of Israel in the desert from the pursuing Egyptians. This was such an amazing experience that the people were inspired to sing a song of thanks to Hashem. We also follow the children of Israel into the desert after the sea and see them miraculously given food and water. This week in fifth grade we concentrated on the song of the sea. The song that is so important that it is part of our prayer service every day. We read a Midrash from Shemot Rabbah (A book of rabbinical explanations of the Parashot of the book of Shemot) that pointed out that this was the first time in recorded history that anyone thanked Hashem with a song of thanksgiving. Noah is saved from the flood and he does not burst into song. Isaac is saved from the Akeidah and he does not start singing. Ya’akov struggles with the angel and is saved and he thanks Hashem for his new name but without a melody. Only when the Children of Israel saw the miracle of the sea were they inspired to sing a song. We also sang a modern Israeli song by Uzi Chitman which is called Todah (thank you) and thanks G-d for all that he has created and for all the gifts he has (family, friends, home etc.). Here are the words to the song and I will try to attach also the mp3 for the melody in case your student would like to sing it for you.
תודה
תודה על כל מה שבראת
תודה על מה שלי נתת
על אור עיניים חבר או שניים
על מה שיש לי בעולם
על שיר קולח ולב סולח
שבזכותם אני קיים
תודה על כל מה שבראת
תודה על מה שלי נתת
על צחוק של ילד ושמי התכלת
על אדמה ובית חם
פינה לשבת אישה אוהבת
שבזכותם אני קיים
תודה על כל מה שבראת
תודה על מה שלי נתת
על יום של אושר תמימות ויושר
על יום עצוב שנעלם
תשואות אלפיים וכפיים
שבזכותם אני קיים
.
The bottom line is that we need to be thankful for all the miracles that happen in our lives—big and small. Shabbat Shalom, Morah Donna, Morah Yiska and Morah Hannah
