Parshat Beshalach (Shabbat Shirah) (When He Let Go)

The Torah portion is Beshalach (Shabbat Shirah), Exodus 13:17-17:16. In synagogues using the Triennial system, 5785 is year 3 and the Torah reading is Exodus 14:26-17:16.

The People left Egypt and headed for the Sea of Reeds (NOT the Red Sea). Pharaoh and his troops pursued them. The Sea split, the Israelites passed through safely and the Sea crashed down on the Egyptian troops them. Moses led the People in the Song of the Sea, on of the ten Songs of tradition. Miriam led the women in a shorter song. The people continued through the wilderness, where G-d fed them on manna which appeared every day and a double portion on Friday to last through Shabbat. The parshah ends with the battle against Amalek, in which, according to tradition, that warrior nation attacked the weakest from behind but the Israelites ultimately won the battle.

The haftarah is Judges 4:4-5:31. The story of Deborah the Judge and Prophetess, and Balak battling enemy commander Sisera. Like the Torah portion, this contains one of the great Songs of tradition.

In synagogues using the Sephardic tradition, the Haftarah is Judges 5:1-5:31.