Weekly Reflections with Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Song of Miriam The Jews stood at the edge of the sea in a spirit of exhilaration. They had just experienced the miracle of the splitting of the sea and the finality of redemption from Egypt. The feared Egyptian army lay dead, drowned in the sea. Led by Moshe, the Jewish people sing a song of praise to thank G-d for the salvation. But somehow their song was not sufficient. In Jewish literature there are numerous examples of people who offered songs upon salvation. There is the song of the Jews regarding the well, and the song of Devorah in the book of Judges. But in each case the song is sung and it is considered sufficient. In this case, however, after Moshe concluded his song with the Jewish people, his sister Miriam began her own song of thanksgiving. What was missing in the song of Moshe and the Jewish people, that Miriam felt she needed to add? When the Torah tells us that Miriam sang a song of thanksgiving, the Torah identifies her as "Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Ahron." The commentaries explain that the reference to Miriam as being Ahron's sister refers to a specific time period in Miriam's life when she was only the sister of Ahron, because Moshe was not yet born. It was at this time that Miriam prophesized, "My mother will give birth to the redeemer of the Jewish people." The Medrash tells us that when Moshe was born the family sensed Moshe's great potential as leader of the Jewish people. Miriam's father kissed her on the forehead and said, "Your prophecy has been fulfilled." But a few months later the family needed to hide Moshe from the Egyptian police. As they hid Moshe in a basket in the Nile they feared the worst. He slapped Miriam on the cheek and asked, "What has become with your prophecy?" Miriam lived through the roller coaster of emotions until the redemption finally occurred. She was named Miriam, from the word mar- or bitter- because she was born at a most difficult time in the Egyptian exile. Nevertheless her slogan was one of hope, and she tried to instill that hope in others. Moshe was raised in the house of Pharoh and did not benefit from the all-encompassing educational experience of the Jewish community. Miriam's prophecy seemed like nothing more than a wishful dream. When Moshe grew older he identified with the Jews and killed the abusive Egyptian taskmaster. As a result he had to flee from Egypt, and he disappeared from the scene for about six decades. Finally he returned at the age of eighty with a message of upcoming redemption. The initial result of his message, however, is that Pharoh makes the Jews work even harder. Throughout this waiting period for redemption the sting of her father's slap must have hurt. Although all observant Jews believed that there would eventually be a redemption, despondency had set in. They felt that they would be stuck in the darkness of exile for many years without redemption in sight. But throughout this time Miriam held fast to her belief that the redemption would yet occur in their generation. As G-d brought plague after plague on the hapless Egyptians the gnawing question remained. Was Miriam right or not? Was redemption imminent, or would the showdown and oppression go on for a lifetime? Even the plague of the first born, when Pharoh chases them out of his land, doesn't end the story. Days later Pharoh chases after them to recover his slaves. Should her father kiss her for the prophecy, or slap her in frustration? Only when the final redemption occurs, and the Egyptian army is dead at their feet, could the Jewish people finally sing. But by now Miriam has something to add. You see, Miriam had a unique perspective on the redemption. To her it wasn't merely a good thing. To her this was something she sweated for, had hope for, and had tried to share with others. To her, this redemption was something that she had been slapped for. So, the Miriam who was "the sister of Ahron," has her own song to sing. It is the song of one person alone who had faith when others had lost hope. On a communal level, it is the song in every generation of the optimists who build Torah while many others are stuck in frustration. On a personal level, it is the song of the parent who has faith in her child when all others have given up. Miriam's song is brief but powerful. She sings alone, the song of one whose hope is finally vindicated. Those who wish can join her in her song. But even greater than singing with her after the redemption would be to join her in her prophetic vision for a brighter tomorrow. With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos, Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Torah Links of Cherry Hill Rabbi Mordechai Rhine is the Co-Director of Torah Links of Cherry Hill, and the Rabbi of Young Israel of Cherry Hill. His book, “The Magic of Shabbos,” (The Judaica Press, 1998) is available at Judaica stores worldwide. Additional articles by this author are available at his web site www.teach613.org. To see more articles from this author go to www.teach613.org