Mi kamocha ba’elim Adonai. Mi kamocha, nedar bakodesh, nora tehilot, osei feleh?
The children of Israel, we are told in Exodus chapter 15, broke out into song in praise of Hashem’s mighty power, singing Mi Kamocha as the Red Sea devoured Pharaoh’s army as they walked from exile and slavery in Egypt on towards deliverance in the promised land. Though this song is sung in a lively manner at some synagogues, for me, it always seems to move me most when it is sung solemnly. While we are joyous that our Gd is always with us, it is in the awe of Hashem’s power that Mi Kamocha resonates so deeply for those of us sitting here today. One year ago, who among us knew that we would all be sharing this festival meal? That we would be sharing stories of friendship and redemption and about the blessings in our lives? One year ago, we were all in very different places but it comforts me to see that – however small – some of that redemption promised to the children of Israel has come our way. Here we are, gathered as a family, on this most joyous of holidays, sharing a meal and inspiring words to remind each other of what our spiritual ancestors were singing the day that the Red Sea fell on Pharaoh’s army: Who is like you, Adonai? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing miracles?
As I prayed for some kind of inspiration for this seder’s D’var Torah, I was suddenly struck with the solemn lyrics to a Sephardim version of Mi Kamocha that would not leave my head.I wandered around for days humming the song quietly to myself until I remembered that this is the song of ultimate redemption.We sing these songs at shul and most times it does not occur to me to really extol the deeper meaning of these melodies.
But Mi Kamocha is the ultimate Passover song.Not Dayenu or the Four Questions or any of the other songs that we will sing tonight.This was the song that our spiritual ancestors sang in praise of Hashem’s mighty power to free them from bondage on the very first Passover.I am struck by the way this story applies to our daily lives now.Exiled from Israel and without a Temple to call our own, bogged down with life’s trials and tribulations, witnessing the devastating effects of war and natural disasters, we pray for redemption.It is hard to keep faith when going through such struggle but we did and we prayed HARD to be redeemed.Then one day, Gd showed up to unshackle us.And so we sit here this year, together as a family to celebrate the redemption of our spiritual ancestors.Yet it is poignant because we ourselves have been redeemed.We have seen Hashem’s mighty works and we have seen miracles.Rabbi Bramly once told me that it is said that the children of Israel walked through the Red Sea looking UP at the miracle happening all around them, not looking down at the mud and garbage they were walking through to get to freedom and redemption.Every time I feel like I am being bogged down with the weight of the world, I remember these words, that event, and the song Mi Kamocha.As we all trudged through the monotony of every day life, witnessing catastrophes like the earthquakes in Japan, and walk through trials that we endure living in the Diaspora, I am reminded to look UP at the miracles that still happen every day and I quietly remark to myself… Who is like you, Adonai, glorious in holiness and doing miracles.
We say at the end of the Seder, “Speedily lead your redeemed people to Zion. Next year in Jerusalem!” This year I will raise my glass even higher in hopes that next year we will all see true redemption of our people. We have seen the wonders of Hashem’s works in our individual lives. We know Hashem to be awesome and true. We have seen the miracle of the Red Sea parting to lead us home to the Promised Land. And we will get there. All of us will get there. Just keep looking up at the miracles and remember – Hear O Israel. Adonai is our Lord. Adonai is one.
Chag Sameach everyone.
