Nu! Split the Sea Already

A boy decided that he wanted to become a rabbi when he grew up. So his father suggested that he go speak to their Shul rabbi to find out what the job entailed.
The boy went to meet the rabbi. “Ask me any question about the rabbinate,” the rabbi declared, “and I’ll give you the answer.”
“Well, besides giving a sermon for about 15 minutes on a Shabbat morning, what else do you do all week?” the boy asked.
“You don’t want to become a rabbi,” the rabbi said. “With questions like that, you want to become the synagogue president!”

* * *

Ever felt you were all alone? Not lonely; alone. Alone, for you have friends, family and acquaintances that you love and spend time with, yet who do not share the same convictions as you. You want to make a difference and want to include all in your vision, your dream – but nobody cares.

Let me tell you a story of such a man.

As the Jews stood with their faces towards the endless sea, Pharaoh with his troops close behind them, the Jews, unsure of what to expect, split into four opinions (yes, more than one actually had the same view…)

Group One stood up and cried. “Guys, it’s all over,” they wept. “We have nowhere to turn and Egypt is out of the question. Let drown ourselves in the sea!”

Group Two said, “Ok, nice try, we all thought we could do the impossible and escape from Mighty Egypt; forget about it let’s just return to slavery.”

Group Three was comprised of men who were proud and firm. They were of the mind that they must fight the Egyptians.

And finally, Group Four, who were the most devout of them all, felt that the best solution was to pray to the Almighty for salvation.

Representatives of all four parties sent delegations before Moses: he would decide. Moses turned to G-d and asked Him to tell the Jews what they should do. And G-d’s answer was clear: they were to walk into the sea. No suicide, no prayer, no war and no surrender. Just move on, go forward and let G-d take care of the Egyptians.

But the Jews just stood there, not ready to advance towards the sea. No one had the courage to actually walk into the fearsome waters; they just stood there waiting for developments. Then one man made a move.

His name was Nachshon, and he was a brother-in-law of Aaron, the brother of Moses. With full trust in G-d, he entered the water, trudging through as it got deeper and deeper. Nothing happened. The water didn’t split. He continued until he was up to his waist in the sea. Yet the water did not budge.

Nachshon moved on. The water reached his chin – a few more steps and he would be submerged in the water. At that precise moment, the water split, to the relief of all the onlookers on the beach.

One man had courage. An entire nation was saved.

Most people would like to feel supported, encouraged, and accepted. Yet, friendships and connections notwithstanding, there are those times when we you have to stand alone. No one will back you; you are left to fight for your own ideals. But you stand strong, and you don’t stand still.

You do this for the cause is right and you believe that righteousness must prevail.

And, because of you, it does.