Parashat B’shalach/Beshalach (whatever), 5774/2014 edition

Basics here.

Links to my previous B’shalach/Beshalach posts here.  Check it out--I think you'll find some interesting ideas there.

Exodus Chapter13 שְׁמוֹת  [I’m copying mostly the English, to avoid taking G-d’s Hebrew name in vain.]

21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night:

Sure sounds like a volcano to me.  Problem:  There are no active or extinct volcanos in the Sinai Peninsula.  Some suggest that the Hebrews may have taken a much more roundabout route.

Haftarat B’shalach
Judges Chapter 4שׁוֹפְטִים

ט  וַתֹּאמֶר הָלֹךְ אֵלֵךְ עִמָּךְ, אֶפֶס כִּי לֹא תִהְיֶה תִּפְאַרְתְּךָ עַל-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ--כִּי בְיַד-אִשָּׁה, יִמְכֹּר יְהוָה אֶת-סִיסְרָא; וַתָּקָם דְּבוֹרָה וַתֵּלֶךְ עִם-בָּרָק, קֶדְשָׁה.

9 And she said: 'I will surely go with thee; notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thy honour; for the LORD will give Sisera over into the hand of a woman.' And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Interesting, that, in a time and place in which, if my understanding is correct, a woman scarcely left her tent/home without the permission of her father or husband, D’vorah went with Barak to prepare for battle, and no one batted an eye.

• Conservadox chimes in re our overloaded ancestors.
• Rav Shai Held, of Mechon Hadar, puts in a good word for human initiative.