- Song of Red Sea main content today’s reading… ends on a glorious note – but not, as one would expect of a martial victory song, one of conquest or hero worship or bold self-assertion, but rather in a lofty religious affirmation: haShem yimloch l’olam va’ed – The Lord will reign forever and ever. This great phrase, repeated twice as the conclusion of the shirah, is more than a mere last verse. It is, as we shall see, the keynote of the entire immortal Song and, in essence, expresses the eternal appeal and quality… for sandwiched between shma and shmone esrei… daily… shirah chadasha shibchu geulim, a new song did the redeemed from Egypt sing leshimcha, to Thy Name al sfas hayam, at the shore of the Red Sea, yachas kulam hodi vehimlichu, they all in unison gave thanks and proclaimed thy sovereignty saying, haShem yimloch… So that we daily repeat that the key verse of the entire song of Moses is that last verse, haShem yimloch…
- The significance of that fact and emphasis must not escape us, for it is a message directed straight at us, a message which is bound to warm the hearts of those who are fearful and to act as a beacon of light to those whose minds are darkened in gloom.
- What is that message, contained in the four words haShem yimloch…? Let us remember that frequently in our prayers, we have this expression as part of a 3-fold declaration: haShem malach… melech… yimloch… Past, present, future.
- Easy enough to say haShem malach… once… delve into the past for the glory of Judaism, Jewish people… Egypt, Sinai, Babylon, Golden Age Spain, Eastern Europe… Obvious to anyone with a mind supported by a heart that haShem malach. Jewish History stands out as a glorious affirmation of G-d’s Kingship, the vitality of Torah, and the relevancy of our people.
- More difficult, but still easy, say haShem melech. Who possibly lived through the lowest point in our saga, the holocaust of Europe, and so soon afterwards the Creation State of Israel, without being moved to proclaim in worshipful reverence haShem melech?... followed quick events 1948 and saw living miracle, saw state survive and thrive where all laws of nature and rules military science demanded its defeat and extinction, haShem melech?… How many of us, thinking about the relevance of religion in our lives, think that although more true that haShem malach, was more real parents and grandparents, nevertheless still true haShem melech, that we occasionally do feel a twinge of our consciences, a spark in our hearts, a deep love well up, even if only rarely, for Torah and all that it stands for?
- But how different when it comes to haShem yimloch. How often the best and wisest among us try to pierce certain uncertainty hanging over the future, come up with a prophecy of doom: TORAH IS WICKED; ORTHODOXY DOESN’T STAND A CHANCE. I’ve heard it from countless people – those who are in truth loyal to Torah, love Judaism, had haShem malach – pious parents, also haShem melech, themselves ardent workers… yet sink into a tangible gloom and pervasive pessimism when thinking about the future. Just can’t rise up to the affirmation of haShem yimloch.
- Series 2 articles Nathan Glazer in Dec. and Jan. COMMENTARY: revival Jews, not revival Judaism… very little traditional piety in actions… but then makes one statement completely unfounded: “Traditional. Jewish piety as expressed in observant ritual, dead or close to dead in America; the traditionally observant Jew is almost as much a curiosity in many Jewish communities as in the community outside. “Medieval world is shattered, and Orthodox Judaism is only a museum object as far as the overwhelming majority of American Jews are concerned.” What a whale of a statement, what a terrific generalization for a supposedly scientific sociologist to make! What a pitiable soul who can say haShem malach in a medieval world, haShem melech only in a burgh as a museum piece, and absolutely no haShem yimloch!
- Is in answer to this kind of loom, to this brand of prophecy of doom which sometimes uttered with a cheerful note, but is echoed by some of us with a brooding and impending sense of tragedy, is in answer to this that Moses rose to the crescendo Song and sang out in a voice reaching out across centuries and reechoing in this very chamber: haShem yimloch leolam vaed!
Cicero told us we were a museum-type curiosity heading straight to extinction. But haShem yimloch leolam vaed. We outlived ten Roman Empires!
Antiochus destroyed the Temple, though he sounded the death knell. HaShem yimloch leolam vaed. His Greece lives only in the ruins of Athens and dusty textbooks, while we thrive as the same Jews!
Titus robbed our Temple, plundered Jerusalem, and built himself an arch in the middle of Rome and on it wrote what he thought was an obituary for Judaism: Hierosolyma est Perdita…But we responded with the rising challenge haShem yimloch leolam vaed – Titus’ Rome and his Italy have forever lost their glory, while today Jerusalem is being rebuilt.
Hitler threatened a 1000 years of Nazi domination of Europe and utter extermination all Jews world like so many rodents. Was our answer to despair? To throw up our hands and throw in the towel? To accommodate him by casting away all our pride, self-respect, and loyalty? NO, NO, 6 MILLION TIMES NO! Out of the blood and ashes of Dachau and Treblinka, we formed a medinat yisrael… haShem yimloch leolam vaed.
- He who despairs is foolish. He who writes off Orthodoxy is in for a big surprise. There is more vitality in the marrow of the bones of Torah than in all the rest world combined. G-d was King. He is King. And He shall remain King.
Melancholia and chronic pessimism have no place in our hearts. The Jew may be a short-range pessimist, but he is invariably a long-range optimist. If true haShem melech, is so only because we have always staked our very lives, our faith, squarely on these 4 words haShem yimloch leolam vaed.
No, Prof. Sociologist Nathan Glazer, you are sorely mistaken. So, “Traditional Jewish piety as expressed in observant Jewish rituals died in America”? Well, you should have been here the first two days of Pesach, and today and tomorrow, to witness the revival of Birchas Kohanim, and I wonder if you could have said that with a straight face… “Tradition, Observance, Jewish curiosity, Jewish community?” Perhaps someone ought to enlighten you about an Orthodox Jew, Marshall by name, who is the Premier of Singapore. Or Yeshiva University (also Med School)… Or number Kodimoh members attending United Brotherhood with yarmulkes… “Orthodox Judaism museum object.” Well, my good doctor, we ought to take you on a tour of Springfield Hebrew Day School, see the vitality and enthusiasm, and progress of that school. Quite a bit of activity for a museum, Dr. Glazer!... Rather surprisingly active mummies, Professor!… Or our Bnei Mitzvah – museum keepers must be rather unhappy with mummies hopping all over shul on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Sorry, doctor, but your good curator is going to quit his job unless you can keep your museum more dusty and quiet!
You see, Dr. Glazer, and Glazers all over America, including Commentary itself and even Springfield, you have failed to reckon with rejuvenative powers released when Jew recites shirah: haShem yimloch leolam vaed… We refuse to go away and die. We refuse to write death warrants against our faith. No one is going to embalm Torah. We are here to stay. And we shall thrive. haShem yimloch leolam vaed.
Shirah chadasha shibchu geulim… our redemption depends on how well we can learn the new song. Yachad kulam hodu vehimlichu… may the day come when kulam, all Jews will join in yachad, in unison and harmony, to affirm the royalty of G-d and the brightness of the future, with the immortal words, haShem yimloch leolam vaed…
