or small – that Israel and our communities have made in response to the act of terror and ensuing antisemitism .
Like the ancient Israelites , Jews today hold different opinions about the best course of action in moments of crisis . Ultimately , in the Exodus story , it turns out that none of the Israelites ’ recommended responses carried the day . Instead , Moses pleaded that the people trust in God , and God intervened to provide redemption . While we cannot simply wait for miraculous intervention today , the midrash teaches us that we do not need to have all of the right answers , and sometimes , in moments of crisis , we simply do not know the correct path to take .
The midrash 2 also records another tradition about the Israelites arguing at the shore of the sea . 3 However , we have conflicting manuscript evidence for this midrash .
According to one version :
“ When the Israelites stood at the sea , one said : ‘ I will go down to the sea first ’ and the other said : ‘ I will go down to the sea first .’”
According to another version of the tradition :
“ When the Israelites stood at the sea , one said : ‘ I will not go down to the sea first ’ and the other said : ‘ I will not go down to the sea first .’”
2
Mechilta deRabbi Ishmael Beshallah Parashah 5
3
Horovitz and Rabin , 106 ; Lauterbach , 1:234 ( my translamon here deviates from Lauterbach ).
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