%20(1).png)
The Unsung Singer of the Exodus
- Rabbi Ed Rosenthal
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Like our fathers and mothers before us for countless generations, Jews around the world are preparing to retell the story of the Exodus of our people from slavery in Egypt. We’ll hear about the bitterness of slavery, terror of the ten plagues and the awesome power of that night when God saved the Jews from the Angel of Death as it passed over the houses of Egypt. The Haggadah tells us that every individual is obligated to see ourselves as if we, personally went out of Egypt.
Try it. Can you see yourself, with all your belongings on your back walking with the throngs of Jews leaving Egypt? There you are, walking amongst 2 million other Jews towards the Sea with the hope of freedom from slavery in your heart. Can you feel the fear as you stand on the shore of the Sea with Pharaoh’s army bearing down on you? Do you see the pillar of fire issue forth from the sky to keep the army from slaughtering you? Can you see Moses, standing before the throng of people, facing the Sea with his outstretched arms? Can you feel the confusion and wonder as the Sea begins to part before you? Along with the mass of people, you move forward into the void with walls of water rising above you on either side. Can you see it? Can you feel the wind, and the spray of the water on your face?
Without warning, the pillar of fire disappears and the army of Egypt again is in pursuit. Along with all the other Jews, you run in panic to the far shore of the Sea. When the walls of water are behind you and you’re standing on the shore, you turn around to see the army getting closer when suddenly, the walls of water close in on themselves, and the Sea returns to itself and the army of Pharaoh is destroyed. You stand in silence before the awesome power you have just witnessed. You are overwhelmed by the sense that now…you are free.
As you and the others stand in silence staring over the water, a voice rings out. A beautiful voice saying: “Sing to the Lord!” It is the voice of Miriam, the sister of Moses. She begins to sing and dance, and all the women join her.
If I may be so bold, let me say that Miriam is the unsung hero of the Exodus. If it wasn’t for Miriam the Exodus never would have happened, and if it wasn’t for Miriam our people would never have survived for 40 years wandering in the Desert. Miriam, more than any other character in our tradition, is associated with water.
When Pharoah decreed that every Jewish baby boy be killed, his mother Yochevet put the baby Moses in a basket and set it adrift on the Nile. It was Miriam who followed the basket in the river ensuring Moses’ safety until he was found by Pharoah’s daughter. When we were saved at the Sea, it was Miriam who sang and danced in jubilation. During our 40 years of wandering, we had water from what was known as “Miriam’s Well.” Our tradition teaches it was because of the righteousness, strength and courage of Miriam, that our ancestors had water for 40 years in the wilderness. When Miriam died, the well ran dry.
On Passover, at the beginning of the Seder, we dip parsley into salt water to remind us of the tears our ancestors shed while slaves in Egypt. Others have said it represents the tears our ancestors have shed throughout our long history of persecution. Interestingly, Miriam’s name (מרים) translates as “Bitter Sea.” But we know the Sea isn’t bitter. The Sea is simply salt water… and tears are salt water. Later in the Seder however, we say: “Let us rejoice at the wonders of our deliverance from bondage to freedom, from agony to joy, from mourning to festivity, from darkness to light, from slavery to redemption. Before God let us ever sing a new song.” And who was it that sang the song of redemption? It was Miriam!
Just as Miriam saved Moses as a baby, sang the song of redemption, and gave us water in the wilderness, it is Miriam who turns the bitter sea into living water. If we change our perspective and read her name backward (מירם instead of מרים ), the “Bitter Sea” becomes “Exalted Water.” So, with Miriam as our model, if we change our personal perspective, we can change our lives every day, from sorrow to joy, from darkness to light, and from slavery to redemption. And it is for this reason that we add Miriam’s Cup to our Seder Table, filled with fresh, exalted water to remind us that it is within our power to turn the bitter in our lives to exalted.
Chag Sameach… Have a Happy Passover.
To read more about Miriam and Water:
Comments