Exodus · Weekly Torah portion
Parashat Beshalachבְּשַׁלַּח
Torah reading
Exodus 13:17-17:16
Haftarah
Judges 4:4-5:31
Sephardic: Judges 5:1-31
What happens in Beshalach
Trapped between Pharaoh's chariots and the sea, the Israelites panic — and the sea splits. They cross on dry land, and Moses and Miriam lead the Song of the Sea, the Torah's great victory hymn, with Miriam and the women dancing with timbrels. This parsha is read on Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song. Freedom proves complicated: within days the people complain of thirst and hunger, and God sends manna — with a double portion on Fridays, teaching Shabbat before Sinai ever happens.
Big themes
- Taking the first step
- Gratitude and complaint
- Song as prayer
If this is your bar or bat mitzvah portion
A midrash says the sea didn't split until one person, Nachshon, walked in up to his neck. Sometimes the miracle waits for someone to move first. For a student leading a congregation in song, Beshalach — the parsha of singing — is a gift.
Learning to chant Beshalach?
Ready 13 builds a verse-by-verse practice plan for this exact portion — chanted reference audio, karaoke highlighting, trope games, and a countdown that keeps the big day on track.
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