Parashat Beshalach

Deborah leads a nation in war and sings a victory song.

We can return on a path of responsible and sustainable stewardship.

It is always a long road to the Promised Land.

If a sea can split, anything is possible.

A creative interpretation yields a valuable lesson about the vital importance of Torah to the Jewish people.

Moses leads the Israelites into the wilderness after their escape from Egypt. God sends manna to feed them and Amalek attacks the Israelites.

Despite the fear and exhaustion of journeying from a dark, narrow place, we must remember to accompany our arrivals with song and joy.

The images of the angel of God and the pillar of cloud accompanying the Israelites in the desert raise questions about effective leadership.

Moses' challenge as a leader was to learn the difference between the Israelites' expressions of fear and rebellion.

The transformation into a sacred people occurs not through miracles but rather through steady education, discipline and communal reinforcement.