Why We Still Have Reason to Sing
Only when we recognize which world is primary can we truly thank Hashem for everything.
Rav Aharon Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe, lost his entire family and almost his entire kehillah during World War II. He was left with just a handful of older chassidim, who accompanied him to Eretz Yisrael after the war. Once they were settled, he made a seudas hoda’ah to thank Hashem for saving his life. The seudah was held on Shabbos Parashas Beshalach, also known as Shabbos Shirah.
During the seudah, one of the chassidim cried out bitterly, “Why are we making a seudas hoda’ah? I buried all my children, lost my entire family, my whole town, almost everyone I knew. What do we have to give thanks for? Why are we singing and praising Hashem and making a festive meal?”
Rav Aharon answered by quoting the medrash (Mechilta, Parashas Bo 12) that explains the words (Shemos 13:18), “Vachamushim alu Bnei Yisrael mei’ Eretz Mitzrayim.” Translated literally, the words mean that the Children of Yisrael were armed when they went up from the land of Egypt. The medrash explains it to mean that only one out of five Jews left Mitzrayim; others say only one in fifty left Mitzrayim; and others say only one in 500 left Mitzrayim!
The Torah tells us that 600,000 Jews left Mitzrayim, which means that according to any of the above interpretations, millions of Jews died before Yetziyas Mitzrayim. Every Jew must have lost numerous family members, friends, and neighbors. Yet, on the seventh day after they left Mitzrayim, following Kriyas Yam Suf, the entire Jewish nation rose and sang shirah to Hashem. How can we understand this?
Rashi’s comment on the words (ibid 15:1), “Az Yashir Moshe u’Vnei Yisrael” – then Moshe and the Children of Yisrael sang – sheds light on this difficulty. Rashi says: “Our Rabbis of blessed memory have said, from here there is an allusion in the Torah to techiyas hameisim.” What connection is there between the song sung after the splitting of the sea and the resurrection of the dead?
The Belzer Rebbe answered that it must have been very difficult for the Jews to sing shirah after losing so many millions of their loved ones and fellow Jews. How did they have the strength to do so? The answer is: “From here there is an allusion to techiyas hameisim.” One who lives with the knowledge and recognition that this world is temporary, that life does not end here but continues in the Next World – the primary world – is capable of recovering and singing shirah. Such a person understands clearly that death is not an eternal loss, but merely a passage to one’s final destination.
One who sees this world as primary, however, experiences the loss of a loved one as an enormous and unfathomable blow, and is incapable of giving thanks and saying shirah.
Only if we understand and believe that this world is merely a passageway, like a fleeting shadow, and the main goal is to reach the World to Come, can our hearts open up to say shirah to Hashem and thank Him for everything.
(Rabbi Yisrael Meir Druck, “Shabbos Shirah – Reason to Sing.” Rav Druck on Chumash: ArtScroll/Mesorah.)
We can easily get discouraged by the tragedies that seem all too common in our day. Yet, if we keep our hearts trained on what we are doing here and realize that this is just the road for each neshamah to reach its eternal destination, we can retain our appreciation for all the good Hashem has granted us.
Take This Home
If you haven’t done so today, take a moment to recite the last of the 13 Ani Ma’amins:
Ani ma’amin b’emunah sheleimah she’ti’hiyeh techiyas hameisim b’eis she’ ya’aleh ratzon mei’eis Haborei Yisborach Shemo v’yisaleh Zichro la’ad u’li’neitzach nitzachim – I believe with complete faith that there will be a resurrection of the dead at the time when the wish emanates from the Creator, Blessed is His Name and exalted is His mention, forever and for all eternity.
In Short
Rav Avigdor Miller describes our avodah on Shabbos as “rehearsing” for Olam Haba. He identifies three key lessons we can draw from Shabbos to further increase our appreciation of Olam Haba.
One of these relates to the notion of oneg Shabbos, which serves as a visible and tangible model for the Afterlife, a sensory means of gaining awareness of the joys of Olam Haba. As he states in his inimitable way:
“While you’re enjoying your food, think of the great se’udah, the banquet that lasts forever. You’ll never get tired of eating there. Olam Haba is joy following joy, pleasure after pleasure. We have to picture Olam Haba, and the more you picture it, the more your emunah grows in you. So, as you sit at your Shabbos table enjoying the delicacies of Shabbos, think about Olam Haba … Become a ma’amin in Olam Haba as a result of what you enjoyed today …”
(Rabbi Tzvi Hebel, Living with Olam Haba, Judaica Press, page 26.)
It Happened to Me!
My Olam Haba Moment
My neighbor called me literally at the last minute, as I was getting into my car, to ask me if I could take her son home from camp when I picked up my own children. I realized I would not have room in my small car to safely transport the other child home. And then, as I began to drive, I realized that if I dropped my daughter off at home before continuing on to the boys’ camp, I could free up a seat. But it was out of the way, and I was tired and hot and just wanted to be done with my pick-ups and back home in my air-conditioned house. What’s more, I knew my neighbor could really go herself – it was just a little difficult for her that day.
After a moment’s thought, I called my neighbor back to let her know I could get her son. What motivated me? I had just been reading some stories about a wonderful person I knew who was always so happy to help others, in whatever way he could. This man had recently passed away suddenly, while in his early forties. And here I am, still able to grab the chance to do for others. So I grabbed my chance!
A.L.P., Monsey
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