Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Beshalach
The Shira – Song of faith- was sung by Bnei Yisrael as they emerged from the red sea. It is so important that we say it every morning.
However, Chazal tell us that when the angels asked for permission to have their own turn in thanking G’d for the miracle of Yam Suf, the Red Sea, their request was turned down. Hashem said to them “My creation (the Egyptian army) is drowning in the sea, and you want to sing ?”
The obvious question is. If so, why were Bnei Yisrael allowed to sing, and their poem was eternalised in the Torah ?
The commonly quoted answer is, that Bnei Yisrael were saved from death and torture the Egyptians would have inflicted on them if not for the miracle. Therefore – it is understandable and acceptable for them to sing and praise G’d. The angels were not “party” to the event and had to refrain from singing as so many human beings are dying.
Perhaps I can add a further thought.
The Karliner Chasidim are known for their custom of praying very loudly. For someone outside their community, it is hard to Daven with them, as they all shout the prayer in a loud voice.
One such Chosid, was visiting Vienna and approached (my maternal grandfather) the Chortkover Rebbe with the following request. “I would like to pray with your Minyan on Shabbat, but please allow me to Daven loud as I am used to“. The Rebbe politely refused, saying: “You are welcome to be with us, but you have to respect our Minhag, our custom, and pray (almost) silently“. The Chosid agreed!
On Shabbat, the Karliner appeared in the Shul and stayed calm until… At one stage he forgot himself and went back to the Karliner way of prayer, shouting loudly the Tefilah.
As the service concluded, having realised his mistake, he went into the Rebbe’s private study room and apologised. The Rebbe smiled and said. It is fine, no need to apologise. He went on to say “When you approached me on Friday, you planned to shout and scream, and I said no. When during the Tefila on Shabbat you screamed, it was not a planned scream, rather it was a hearty and spontaneous way of Davening, which is fine…“.
Back to the Shira: When Bnei Yisrael sung their Shira, it was not a Planned “performance”. Rather, it was a song coming from the depth of their soul. Something that you can not stop. The angels asked for permission. A planned Shira… this is not right when so many Egyptians have died.
There is something very special when we sometimes feel a spontaneous, unplanned desire to do something good.
Shabbat Shalom and best wishes
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld