Hayom Yom: Tackling Life's Tasks - 17 Shvat

It is customary to stand while the Song of the Sea is read [in the synagogue on Shabbos Parshas Beshalach].1

The haftarah [for Parshas Beshalach] begins U’Devorah ishah neviah (Shoftim 4:4-24 and 5:1-31).

It is customary to eat buckwheat [on this day].2

On Shabbos Parshas Beshalach, 5621 [1861], the Tzemach Tzedek delivered the maamar entitled Re’u Ki Havayah, which appears in Likkutei Torah.3 He later told his son, my revered grandfather, the Rebbe [Maharash]:

On Shabbos Parshas BeShalach, 5565 [1805], my revered grandfather, the [Alter] Rebbe, delivered this maamar and called me and told me that in the year 5529 [1769], while he was [studying] in Mezritch, the Maggid called him to his room and told him: “On Shabbos Parshas BeShalach, 5516 [1756], the Baal Shem Tov delivered a maamar on the verse,4 ‘And before dawn, the sea returned to its original strength,’ the last phrase of which our Sages interpret as meaning, ‘according to its stipulation.’5

“In 5521 [1761], (this was a year after the passing of the Baal Shem Tov),”6 the Maggid continued, “my master, (the Baal Shem Tov,) appeared to me and delivered the maamar [again], adding an explanation of the concept of ‘fulfilling the will’ — as distinct from fulfilling the utterance — ‘of the Omnipresent.’7

“Today,” [concluded the Alter Rebbe,] “my master [the Maggid] appeared to me to review the maamar.”

The Maggid delivered the maamar8 before the Alter Rebbe and added an explanation regarding [the splitting of] the GinaiRiver [for R. Pinchas ben Yair],9 likening it to the Splitting of the Sea of Reeds.10

The Tzemach Tzedek concluded: “Today, the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid, and my revered grandfather, the [Alter] Rebbe, appeared to me. Each of them delivered the maamar to me according to his own style.”

A few hours later the Tzemach Tzedek again summoned my revered grandfather, the Rebbe [Maharash], and gave him an explanation of that maamar.11