By Rabbi David Cohen:
Egypt was journeying after them, and they were frightened and Bnei Yisrael cried out to Hashem. (14:10)
In interpreting Klal Yisrael’s “crying out” to Hashem, Rashi explains, tafsu umnot avotam, “They adopted the craft of their forefathers,” namely, prayer. Avraham Avinu prayed; indeed he initiated Tefillat Shacharit. Likewise, Yitzchak Avinu instituted Minchah and Yaakov Avinu introduced Arbit.
Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, points to the pasuk Min Ha’meitzar – “From the straits” – karati Kah – “I called out to Hashem.” When I realize that I am in an impossible situation, with no way out, I turn to Hashem, for He is truly the only One who can save me. Rav Yeruchum asks: Does one have to be in an impossible situation to realize that only Hashem can help him? Does this mean that if the situation were different, if he were not being pursued, persecuted, hunted and beaten, it would be any different? No! Regardless of the circumstances, be they positive or negative, it is only Hashem to Whom we can turn. If so, why? Should it be any worse when the predicament is such that we are hounded and persecuted, our lives filled with misery and pain? What has changed? We still seek only Hashem’s support.
The Mashgiach posits that Rashi specifically addressed this question when he says that the Jews adopted the craft of their forefathers. Rashi is teaching us a powerful lesson concerning the secret of prayer and its efficacy. As the Jews stood at the banks of the Red Sea, they were surrounded on all sides. The Jews were in a life-threatening predicament. So, they prayed.
One might think that the prayers offered by the Jewish people at this moment were quite unlike the prayers expressed by the Patriarchs. Nothing was threatening them. Thus, one would posit that the prayers which the Patriarchs issued were different in nature than those we have prayed throughout our tumultuous history. Rashi teaches us that this is an error. Even during the most pleasant and calm moments, the Patriarchs prayed to Hashem with such extreme urgency, entreating His favorable response as if they were motivated by the most pressing circumstances. They prayed every prayer as if their lives were hanging in the balance. Why? It is because this is the life of a Jew. We never have anyone to depend upon other than Hashem. The Jew is always in a min ha’meitzar situation. Our only recourse is to cry to Hashem, for only He can help us.
This is why the Jews “adopted the craft of their forefathers.” Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov prayed as if their lives depended on it – because it did! So, too, did Klal Yisrael pray to Hashem – as if their lives depended on it – because it did. The difference is that the Avos, Patriarchs, were always aware of this. Klal Yisrael, regrettably, needed “proof.”
May we all be zocheh to constantly have our tefillot offered from the Meitzar even while we are vacationing during mid winter break.