This week in edJEWcation

Hi friends,

I’m excited to try something new – and by "I," I mean ChayaLeah! Each week, I’ll be sending out an email with insights on the Parsha of the week, links to things you should know, and articles on topics I find interesting. While this will mostly be me, I might occasionally let Jay and my dad share their thoughts too—because, let’s be real, I’ll probably forget to keep this up by week 2! We’ll see how it goes.

Looking forward to sharing with you!

Let’s start with this week’s Parsha. It’s a great one! One of my favorites, if I can be honest! Parshat Beshalach tells the story of one of the greatest moments in Jewish history- the splitting of the sea. G-d performs this great miracle for the Jewish people and still they manage to complain 50 seconds later. Here are some links to learn more about this Parsha:

Parhshat Beshalach in a Nutshell

One of the reasons I deeply appreciate this Parsha is because it highlights the incredible faith of the women, who truly believed that G-d would deliver them from the Egyptians’ pursuit. This is evident in the fact that they brought their musical instruments with them, ready to celebrate and praise Hashem even before the miracle unfolded. There is something profoundly inspiring about the unwavering faith of these women—they knew, without a doubt, that redemption was coming. Truly, women know what’s up! Ok, usually women know what’s up……

Here’s a unique version of the “Az Yashir,” the Song of the Sea, which the Jews sang after their miraculous deliverance from the Red Sea. This particular melody is sung in the Great Shul of Gibraltar and is known for its distinct and special tune, unlike any other. The music reflects the deep joy and gratitude of the Jewish people as they celebrated their newfound safety and freedom. It’s a beautiful and rare rendition that holds a special place in the hearts of those who hear it.

Az Yashir

This week marks a special holiday in Chabad. The 10th of Shvat, which falls on Saturday, February 8, 2025, is the anniversary of the passing of the Previous Chabad Rebbe and the day Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (the Rebbe) assumed leadership of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. Thousands of Chassidim will gather in Brooklyn this weekend to engage in prayer, learning, and celebration in honor of this holy day.

Click here for more info on the 10th of Shvat

On the left: Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson (6th Chabad Rebbe)

On the right: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (7th Chabad Rebbe)

Here’s a picture my son snapped of a group of Chabad teenagers (his friends) on their way to Brooklyn for the special holiday, praying the afternoon service at LAX. His caption? "I'm so embarrassed." Classic teenager move, right? 🙄

I’ll finish off with this great meme:

Shabbat Shalom!!!!