This week’s Tora portion includes (highlights?) one of my favorite daily prayers.  The Az Yashir.  (אז ישיר)

This is the song that Moshe and the children of Israel sang after the Sea of Reeds split, letting them cross to the other side, and then refilling the path, drowning the chariots, horses, and Egyptian army in the process.  Within this prayer is another sentence that is echoed right before we stand at attention and recite one of the most important of our daily prayers- the 18, the Amida, the silent devotion.

“Who is like You among the heavens, Who is like you adorned in holiness, so resplendent and awesome that our praise falls short as you perform wonders.”

This song of the sea is part of the daily prayer ritual- it is included in every single morning prayer recital- daily, holiday, or Shabat.  To remind us that after the 10 plagues, our release from Egypt, our terrifying stance at the edge of the sea as we recoiled from the vision of the approaching Egyptian army, that Nachshom ben Aminadav, the head of the tribe of Judah, entered the sea and kept walking.  When he reached the depth where only his head was visible, the waters began to part.  Reminding us that we are not to wait for Hashem’s deliverance but to act as if- NOW- and Hashem will join us and abet our efforts.

This is why this prayer is part of our daily ritual.  To act as a keystone in our lives.  To remind us that the path to Tikun Olam (the completion of Hashem’s miracle on Earth, the repair of the world) is left to us.  Knowing we won’t finish it, but we will make this a better world each and every day.  Not to wait for a sign, but to find the things we can do to make it better and Hashem will help us in the tasks.

But, you should know that the Az Yashir was not always my favorite daily prayer.  Back when I was a tyke, about eight or nine years old, before I decided that I was going to live my life steeped in Jewish tradition, this prayer, this passage, was my nemesis.

My yeshiva decided that we were to learn this entire song by heart.  We were given one week to do so.  And, we had to stand in front of the class reciting it.  I alone among the 19 others couldn’t do it.  It was devastating.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized that while the concept of learning the song was critical, there was a more devious purpose behind this assignment. This was a way to discern which of the students actually went to shul, which were being raised in the Jewish  tradition.

My classmates all came from very traditional religious Jewish households.  Ones where the families went to shul every Shabat, where the fathers went to shul every morning and prayed.  (Those of us who went to HANC elementary grades prayed every morning in class.  As we got older, more prayers were added.  This was before Az Yashir was part of the repertoire; it was added at the next grade level.)  So, my fellow classmates were familiar with Az Yashir.  Many shuls sing this on Shabat, but all say it daily.  Making the entire poem very familiar.  Just not to me.

Why do I bring this up?

Because it should make us all aware of the way all our educational systems operate.  While they may claim they teach our next generations equally, that they provide their instructions with equality- they fail to do so in equity.

A child who is hungry finds it impossible to learn.   A child, whose family never cracks a book or never opens a newspaper, has no bearings to use negotiating the texts and current events required to operate at its grade level.

A remind that we need to ensure our educational system is based upon equality- and equity.

As it says in the Tora, צדק, צדק תרדוף!

You may be more familiar with the English translation:  Justice, Justice, shalt thou pursue.