By Rabbi Baruch Lederman, Congregation Kehillas Torah, San Diego
                                                                

A rabbi was speaking during Pesach about the exodus from Egypt, which included perhaps the greatest miracle of all time, the Splitting of the Red Sea (Krias Yam Suf). The eabbi explained that the there were many many miracles involved in this miracle.

The sea not only split, but it formed a roof like protection over them. The water split into twelve separate lanes – one for each tribe. The walls of water were see-through so that the tribes could still see each other and feel more secure. There were fruit trees and fountains of sweet drinking water along the way.

The ground under their feet was hard not mushy, so they could walk through with ease and not get stuck in the mud. When the Egyptians stepped on the same ground, it became clay like to punish the Egyptians for making the Jews work in the clay pits. The walls of water became rock hard to hammer the Egyptians. The hardened walls formed beautiful decorative mosaics.

A scoffer in the crowd stood up and interrupted, “Rabbi, that is all nice fanciful lore and embellishment; however the Red Sea phenomenon can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has concluded that the Red Sea in that area was only ten inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across. This is all that happened. The rest is exaggeration and hyperbole which ultimately turned into legend. It’s all very simple you know."

Everyone was wondering what the rabbi would say. Did the rabbi even have an answer? But how could the rabbi refute what so many scientists accepted. The crowd waited with bated breath.

”That is amazing,” responded the rabbi, “Your scholarship is very impressive. I have no answer to your erudite theory. I just have one question. How exactly did the entire Egyptian army drown in ten inches of water?!"

Dedicated by Shirley Gee in honor of Shabbos HaGadol.