Beshallach 5771: Gastronomic Judaism, Freedom and The Song of the Sea

This week we remember the amazing Debbie Friedman who died on Sunday, January 9, 2011.  Her music inspired me from the time I was in high school.  To learn more about Debbie please read and watch the videos and mp3s listed below.  Her memory and her music will continue to bless us all for generations to come.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/music/article/jewish_singer_songwriter_performer_debbie_friedman_dies_20110109/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUp2MTfyfrI&feature=player_embedded

http://www.ritualwell.org/holidays/passover/partsoftheseder/honoringmiriam/file.2005-06-27.1260090386

Debbie wrote this song in honor of this week’s parasha and the song of the sea.  You can listen to Miriam's Song, click here.

Miriam's Song

Music and Lyrics by Deborah Lynn Friedman

And the women dancing with their timbrels
Followed Miriam as she sang her song
Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted.
Miriam and the women danced and danced
the whole night long.

And Miriam was a weaver of unique variety.
The tapestry she wove was one which sang our history.
With every thread and every strand
she crafted her delight.
A woman touched with spirit, she dances
toward the light.

And the women dancing with their timbrels
Followed Miriam as she sang her song
Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted.
Miriam and the women danced and danced
the whole night long.

As Miriam stood upon the shores and gazed across the sea,
The wonder of this miracle she soon came to believe.
Whoever thought the sea would part with an outstretched hand,
And we would pass to freedom, and march to the promised land.

And the women dancing with their timbrels
Followed Miriam as she sang her song
Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted.
Miriam and the women danced and danced
the whole night long.

And Miriam the Prophet took her timbrel in her hand,
And all the women followed her just as she had planned.
And Miriam raised her voice with song.
She sang with praise and might,
We've just lived through a miracle, we're going to dance tonight.

And the women dancing with their timbrels
Followed Miriam as she sang her song
Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted.
Miriam and the women danced and danced
the whole night long.

Please consider using Ritualwell.org whenever you want to find interesting and inspirational additions to any holiday observance.

The Torah text of the song of the Sea:   

Notice that it looks like bricks stacked on top of each other.

For information about Manna and its origin and place in Jewish texts please go to Gil Marks’ gilmarks.com website where you will find amazing material.  The links to his commentary on this parasha can be found here: http://gilmarks.com/1215.html

http://gilmarks.com/44034.html

More general information about Manna can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manna.   Some say that Manna may be related to Carob.  Look here for more info on the Carob Tree.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carob_tree

The manuscript photos connected with this week’s portion are from the Vatican collection. Monastery Pantokrator  9th century Psalterion, (Codex 61, 206r)

Information on Rabbi Joe Black and his music can be found here.  Look for Nachson ben Aminadav and Pharaoh, Pharaoh.  http://www.rabbijoeblack.com/

Tu B’shvat seder information can be found here at Hazon’s website.  http://www.hazon.org/food/tuBishvat/Seder_Manual.pdf