And the ministering angels were astounded (at Israel's

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Vayehi Beshalach 7:7

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 14, 2025

And the ministering angels were astounded (at Israel's survival), saying: "Idolators walking on the dry land in the midst of the sea!" And whence is it derived that the sea, too, was filled with fury against them? From (Ibid. 14:22) "And the water was to them a wall (chomah), on their right and on their left." Read it not "chomah" but "cheimah" (wrath). What is it that rescued Israel? "on their right and on their left." "on their right"—in the merit of the Torah that they were destined to receive, viz. (Devarim 33:2) "From His right hand, the fire of the Law for them." And "on their left"—(in the merit of) prayer. Variantly: "on their right and on their left": "on their right"—(the mitzvah of) mezuzah (a parchment scroll affixed to doorposts) that Israel is destined to observe. "and on their left"—tefillin (worn on the left hand).

Themes

Torah Angels Prayer Holy Land

Continue Reading

Book of Jasher Trial of Adikam There are entire books dedicated to filling in those gaps, offering tantalizing glimpses into the lives of our ancestors... Ginzberg God Was Downcast at Sinai Knowing the Future Sin The moment at Mount Sinai. Imagine it: Revelation itself, unfolding before the eyes of all Israel. The Torah, the divine... Ginzberg Metatron at the Dawn of Creation The ancient Israelites must have felt something like that when the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, was finally erected in the d... Ginzberg Moses Refuses to Surrender His Soul to the Angel of Death The story of Moses’ death in Jewish tradition is so much more than just an ending; it's a testament to his unparalleled ... Ginzberg An Angel Wipes His Bloody Sword on David's Garments As Ginzberg retells it in Legends of the Jews, at that very moment, an angel descended, not to offer comfort, but to exe... Ginzberg Ezra's Mystical Visions Rival Those of Moses Himself The legends certainly suggest it. Take Ezra, for example. He wasn't just a scribe, not just a leader bringing the Torah ... Ginzberg The Hidden Origins of the Eighteen Benedictions It turns out, some pretty incredible stories lie behind even the most familiar phrases. Let's talk about the Shmoneh Esr... Other Texts Angels Attend to Rosh Hashanah to a fascinating perspective from the Sefer HaKanah, an important Kabbalistic text. The Sefer HaKanah paints a picture o... Midrash Aggadah How Near Is God When We Call Upon Him Midrash, the art of interpreting scripture by filling in the gaps, expanding on hints, and drawing out deeper meanings, ...