Shemos

The Shabbos in which the Shiras Hayam, the Song of the Sea, is read is called Shabbos Shira. We also read about the daily ration of manna which fell in the wilderness. This last reading has engendered a custom to throw bread or seeds to the birds on this Shabbos. The reason for this custom is that Moshe Rabbeinu proclaimed that the manna would not fall on Shabbos, but rather a double portion would be provided on Erev Shabbos. In an effort to discredit Moshe Rabbeinu, Dasan and Aviram placed manna upon the ground on Shabbos. The birds quickly consumed the manna before anyone could come to collect it. We therefore express our gratitude to the birds by feeding them on Shabbos Shira.

There is, however, a Halachic concern. The Shulchan Aruch (324,11) rules that one may feed animals on Shabbos provided they are your own and you are responsible for feeding them. Feeding stray animals is prohibited because the effort required to feed them is considered unnecessary and a desecration of Shabbos. The Mishna Brura quotes the Magen Avraham who maintains that the custom of feeding the birds on Shabbos Shira is improper since the birds are not your responsibility to feed. Many Poskim, such as the Aruch Hashulchan and the Brezaner Rav, justify the custom using the argument that our intention is to repay our debt of gratitude and are therefore expending effort on our own behalf and not for the birds. Ashel Avraham suggests having a minor feed the birds on Shabbos. One can avoid this dispute completely by putting out the food Erev Shabbos.

The Shabbos which we read the Song of the Sea – “Az Yashir” always occurs near the celebration of Tu B’Shvat, the Rosh Hashana of the fruit trees. HaRav Yehuda Dov Zinner zt’l explains that the juxtaposition of these two events teaches us a lesson in optimism and survival. Tu B’Shvat marks the beginning of the growth of the fruit trees. On this day, the life-giving sap of the trees begins to rise and supplies the trees with the necessary nourishment to blossom and produce fruit. Although inside the tree there are signs of life and growth, outside the tree the bitter cold and frost of winter abound. Overtly, the barren and leafless tree appears dead. However, beneath the surface, the embryonic stages of life and growth are busy creating the blossom and fruit. We, therefore, sing the song of salvation, the “Az Yashir”, near Tu B’Shvat, to illustrate that no matter how desperate and hopeless the situation may seem, we must be optimistic and trust that Divine Providence is successfully formulating salvation beneath the surface.

One can homiletically interpret the verses in this week’s Parsha in a similar way. “They came to Marah, but they could not drink the waters of Marah because they were bitter.” The Jewish People were bitter and depressed that they were being taken to a barren and forsaken desert. Moshe cried out to Hashem, who “showed him a tree”, i.e. the Almighty told Moshe to take the lesson of the growth of the tree to the Jewish People. Then, as the people were inspired by the lesson of the tree, “the waters became sweet”, i.e. their attitudes and dispositions changed and the people, once again, began to enjoy life.