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Why did Miriam take "the tof" and why did the women follow her with drums and dance at Kriyas Yam Suf? The shiur develops that this moment marks Miriam's formal appointment as leader of the women—not merely a celebratory response but a coronation. Her prophecy is verified at the sea, establishing her position to provide water for Klal Yisrael, just as Moshe provides manna and Aharon the Ananei Hakavod.
This shiur analyzes the puzzling details surrounding Miriam's response at Kriyas Yam Suf, particularly the phrase "Vatikach Miriam Hanavia achos Aharon es hatof b'yada" and the subsequent verse describing how all the women went out after her with drums and dances. Rabbi Zweig raises fundamental questions: Why is Miriam called "hanavia" here? Why "achos Aharon" specifically? What is meant by "the tof" (with the definite article) rather than "a tof"? Why did only the women have musical instruments and dancing, while the men's shira had no such accompaniment? And what does "vata'an lahem Miriam" mean—how is she "answering" them? Rashi (רש"י) addresses some of these questions, explaining that the righteous women were confident there would be miracles and therefore took drums with them from Egypt. Rashi also notes that "vata'an" means she led them in song, with the men answering Moshe and the women answering Miriam. However, deeper questions remain about the nature and significance of this moment.
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Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Beshalach 15:20-21
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