It all comes down to what those moments taught us about ourselves and about our relationship with God. Let's dive into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, to explore this idea.
The passage starts with the verse from Exodus 14:31, describing the Israelites' reaction after witnessing God's power at the Red Sea: “Israel saw the great power that the Lord wielded upon Egypt and the people feared the Lord; and they believed in the Lord, and in His servant Moses.” It's that phrase, "the people feared the Lord," that sparks our Rabbis' discussion.
Now, think about the Shema, the central prayer in Jewish life. We recite it every morning and evening, declaring God's oneness. The Rabbis ask, what elements of the Exodus story are essential to include in the blessings surrounding the Shema, specifically in the emet veyatziv – "true and firm" – blessing that follows the morning Shema? The Rabbis teach that we are required to mention the splitting of the Red Sea and the plague of the firstborn. However, if we didn't mention them, we don't need to repeat the prayer. But, if we forget to mention the Exodus itself, we do have to repeat it! Why?
The answer, according to this passage, lies in the degree of difficulty. The Exodus from Egypt was a monumental, almost unimaginable feat. As it says in Deuteronomy 4:34, “Or has any god attempted [to go and take a nation for him from the midst of another nation…according to everything that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt?]” Taking a nation from the heart of another? That's power! And as Deuteronomy 4:20 reminds us, “But the Lord has taken you…[from Egypt].”
Think about it: God Himself declares, "I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt" (Exodus 20:2). But regarding the splitting of the Red Sea, God doesn't say, "I am God who split the sea for you." According to the Rabbis, this subtle difference highlights that taking Israel out of Egypt was a greater testament to God’s commitment.
So why mention the splitting of the Red Sea at all? Because it was after this event that the Israelites truly believed. "And they believed in the Lord, and in His servant Moses," the verse tells us. This belief, this newfound faith, entitled them to sing a song of praise, and the Ruach HaKodesh, the Divine Spirit, rested upon them. As we read in Exodus 15:1, "Then Moses [and the Israelites] sang…"
This connection between redemption, belief, and song has profound implications for our own prayer. Just as the Israelites juxtaposed song after their belief and the splitting of the sea, we should juxtapose redemption to prayer. In other words, we should recite the Shemoneh Esrei – the central standing prayer – immediately after reciting the blessing mentioning the redemption from Egypt.
But there's more. Just as they purified their hearts and recited a song, we too must purify our hearts before we pray. Job 16:17 says, “For there is no villainy in my hands, and my prayer is pure.” Rabbi Yehoshua HaKohen ben Rabbi Nehemya points out: Is there such a thing as a "sullied prayer?" He explains that if our hands are sullied with robbery, our prayers are not answered. Why? Because they are carried out in sin. God says to Noah in Genesis 6:13, "The end of all flesh [has come before me, as the earth is filled with villainy because of them]."
Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina drives this point home. How do we know that stolen property makes our prayers impure? Isaiah 1:15 states, "When you spread your hands…I will not hear." Why? Because "your hands are full of blood." Conversely, when we distance ourselves from robbery, our prayers become pure. Psalms 24:4 says, "He who has clean hands, and a pure heart." And what is the reward? "He shall receive a blessing from the Lord…This is the generation of those who seek Him" (Psalms 24:5–6).
So, what's the takeaway from all of this? It's not just about reciting the right words in the right order. It's about the state of our hearts. Our actions, our integrity, directly impact the effectiveness of our prayers. The Exodus wasn't just a historical event; it was a transformative experience that taught us about faith, redemption, and the importance of living a life worthy of God's blessings. And that, my friends, is a lesson that resonates just as powerfully today.