The sea reverted to its former power (14:27)

The word 'l'aisono' ('to its former power') can also be interpreted to read 'to its pre-condition' ('litna'o'). G‑d created the sea on the pre-condition that it will split before the children of Israel.

- Midrash Rabba

From the diary of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok of Lubavitch:

Thursday, 14th of Sivan 5662, Serebrinka
[June 19 1902]

…The journey from Lubavitch to Serebrinka follows the Shileve and Zari'etche roads through the villages of Slabaditch, Chaimovka, and Shubkes, and through the city of Rudnia. From Rudnia one takes the highway for some seven versts until the turn-off to Serebrinka. Another half-verstand one arrives at the Serebrinka estate.

When we passed the roadside inn of Chaimovka some four versts into our journey, father gave the order to halt, washed his hands, and still seated in the coach closed his holy eyes and said the teffilas haderech, the 'prayer of the road' for a safe journey.

Later, as we rode through a copse of trees, father breathed deeply and, saying that he was exhausted, asked that the coach be slowed. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the side of the coach and rested for a quarter of an hour. My heart shrivelled within me at the sight of his weakened health. Then he opened his eyes and instructed that the horses resume their regular pace.

From afar, there came into view two foot travellers who were resting on a rise at the side of the road. As we came closer I recognized two chassidim, Reb Peretz and Reb Menachem Mendel, schoolteachers of Beshenkovitz. When I told father who they were, he instructed the coachman to slow down and to pass close by to where they were sitting.

When we passed the two, we beheld a magnificent sight:

Reb Peretz and Reb Menachem Mendel are sitting in their tzitzis and skullcaps, with their coats, shoes, hats and walking sticks lying at their sides. Reb Menachem Mendel is sitting cross-legged, leaning his elbows on, his eyes tightly closed; he is listening to his friend Reb Peretz, who is also sitting with tightly closed eyes and is reviewing aloud a discourse of chassidic teaching in the special sing-song tone used in reviewing chassidus, gesturing with his hands in the manner employed when explaining a deep idea.

We stopped for several minutes and observed the two, who did not notice a thing. When we resumed our journey father remarked that they were reviewing the discourse 'Who Measured Water With His Step,' which was delivered by father on the second day of the festival of Shavuos.1

I told father that Reb Peretz and Reb Menachem Mendel told me that this Shavuos marks their 33rd annual trip to Lubavitch. They first came in 1871.2 Every year since, including the years in which father was away from home, they walked to Lubavitch. It is their custom to reach Lubavitch for the Shabbos before Shavuos and to stay through the Shabbos following the festival. Then they return home, again travelling by foot.

We passed through the city of Rudnia and reached the highway, which runs through the market place. Awaiting us were the rabbis, the shochtim, the respectable householders of Rudnia, and its three schoolteachers - Reb Yerachmiel, Reb Yehoshua and Reb Nosson Yitzchok - together with their students, some 50 boys. All have come to greet father and to bless him. Father said to halt the coach and spoke with the assembled for several minutes, giving them his blessings for a restful summer and good earnings.

We drove on. It appears that the scene with Reb Peretz and Reb Menachem Mendel has made a deep impression on father, for when we left Rudnia he said:

"For five thousand, six hundred and sixty one years, nine months, thirteen days, fifteen hours and so many minutes, a certain plot of land has waited for Peretz and Mendel. It has waited for Peretz and Mendel to come and sit on it to review words of Torah, and to thereby fulfill and bring to light the Divine Will which is imbedded within the original supernal thought of creation, which is sealed within the Divine infinite light which comes to emanate the worlds, which is hidden within the Divine infinite light which comes to express the essence of G‑d. (Nevertheless, added father, this supernal will and knowledge does not in any way impinge on the freedom of choice which the Almighty has granted every individual.)

"One cannot imagine the immensity of the gratification this causes the Almighty. It is difficult to envision the envy with which the supernal partzufim3 covet the deed of these schoolteachers of Beshenkovitz. The rebbes, whose souls are in heaven, rejoice over such 'grandchildren'.

"The chassidic schoolteachers4 are the true luminaries of the Jewish home. They are the 'Abraham's of their generations, who spread G‑dliness to the Jewish home. Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch would show greater consideration to the schoolteachers than to the rabbis and would say: 'It is the schoolteachers who make Jews receptive to G‑dliness.'"

At this point we turned off the highway on to the soft road. Soon we passed the rows of trees and the house on the hill came into view. This is our lodgings in the country residence of Serebrinka, may the Almighty grace our arrival with success.

Reb Gershon the blacksmith prepared soup and milk and set it upon the high porch which overlooks the grounds. After drinking a hot cup of soup, I went to visit the park, as recounted above,5 and now I am sit and write; the air is good, and all is quiet and restful.