{"id":41749,"date":"2018-10-09T15:26:09","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T12:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=41749"},"modified":"2022-05-03T23:22:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T20:22:21","slug":"serah-bat-asher-and-the-exodus-crossing-of-the-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/serah-bat-asher-and-the-exodus-crossing-of-the-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"Serah Bat Asher And The Crossing Of The Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the narrative of the Crossing of the Sea, we are told that \u201c\u2026the waters were split, and the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left\u201d (Exodus 14:21-22, see also v. 29). A remarkable visualization of this biblical miracle is recorded in the original 1923 version of Cecil B. DeMille\u2019s film <\/span>The Ten Commandments<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>in an early use of cinematic \u201cspecial effects\u201d. The illusion of keeping the walls of water separated was accomplished by slicing a slab of jello in two and filming it in closeup – and then combining (or double-exposing) it with live-action footage of the Israelites walking into the distance and the Egyptian chariots in pursuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbinic tradition (Pesiqta de-Rav Kahana, Beshalah) records a no less remarkable visualization of how the \u201cwalls of water\u201d might have actually looked to the Israelites as they were passing through the Sea on dry ground. Let us join an evening study session with Rabbi Yohanan (who led the Jewish community in Israel in the 3<\/span>rd<\/span> century CE) as he is teaching about how the Sea was like a \u201cwall\u201d holding back the mountainous waters towering overhead. Pointing to the walls of the candlelit Study Hall, he tells us, in the local Aramaic-Greek dialect, how the walls of water were formed of cross-currents woven together like our lattice-work windows. <\/span><\/p>\n

But, just at this moment, we perceive a female face looking in through one of the windows. It is Serah bat Asher, the immortal granddaughter of our ancient Patriarch Jacob. Indeed, this ageless woman still occasionally appears among us. Quietly, Serah adds, in the same dialect, \u201cNot only that. I was there at the crossing of the Sea. I remember that the walls of water were like translucent windows, through which we could just make out the raging sea beyond\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, our midrashic text does not record the continuation of this particular encounter. Nevertheless, we might imagine an initial look of surprise on the face of Rabbi Yohanan. Then, smiling slightly, our venerable teacher nods silently to Serah, acknowledging her personal recollection. <\/span><\/p>\n

And through the same window, we continue for another moment to glimpse Serah\u2019s radiant face as she fades back into the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

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