The Office of Rabbi Sacks The Divided Sea: Natural or Supernatural (Rabbi Sacks on Beshallach)
Feb 4, 2025
Dive into the fascinating narrative of the Red Sea's miraculous splitting, exploring whether it’s a supernatural event or a natural phenomenon. The discussion uncovers the implications of these interpretations on faith and community. Delve into lessons of strength and weakness as they analyze how these themes echo throughout Jewish history and thought. Get ready for insights that challenge perspectives and inspire deeper understanding of ancient texts!
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Two Perspectives on the Splitting of the Red Sea
- The splitting of the Red Sea has two interpretations: natural and supernatural.
- The natural interpretation emphasizes irony and God's moral intervention.
Naturalistic Explanation for the Divided Sea
- Physicist Colin Humphreys suggests a natural explanation in his book, The Miracles of Exodus.
- He cites wind tides, like a 16-foot elevation difference on Lake Erie and Napoleon's near-drowning in the Gulf of Suez.
Miracles vs. Prophecy
- Maimonides believed Moses's greatest prophetic act was delivering God's word, not performing miracles.
- A midrash suggests the sea splitting was preordained, not a suspension of nature.