Institute for Jewish Spirituality Daily Online Meditation with Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro, Tuesday, January 27, 2026
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ShareVayasev Elohim: The Detour That Liberates
(יז) וַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח פַּרְעֹה֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וְלֹא־נָחָ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים דֶּ֚רֶךְ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י ׀ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים פֶּֽן־יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃ (יח) וַיַּסֵּ֨ב אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ אֶת־הָעָ֛ם דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יַם־ס֑וּף וַחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים עָל֥וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
(17) Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.”(18) So God led the people round about, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds.
Now the Israelites went up armed out of the land of Egypt.
Mekhilta - Two Spiritual Strategies
Rabbi Eliezer:
“Derekh / way” → to weary them (Ps. 102:24)
“Wilderness” → to refine them (Deut. 8:15)
“Sea of Reeds” → to test them (Ps. 106:7)
“Derekh / way” → to weary them (Ps. 102:24)
“Wilderness” → to refine them (Deut. 8:15)
“Sea of Reeds” → to test them (Ps. 106:7)
Rabbi Yehoshua:
“Derekh / way” → to give Torah (Deut. 8:2)
“Wilderness” → to give manna (Deut. 8:16)
“Sea of Reeds” → to do miracles (Ps. 106:9)
“Derekh / way” → to give Torah (Deut. 8:2)
“Wilderness” → to give manna (Deut. 8:16)
“Sea of Reeds” → to do miracles (Ps. 106:9)
Spiritual takeaway:
R. Eliezer: purification by refinement through process
R. Yehoshua: purification by elevation above nature
R. Eliezer: purification by refinement through process
R. Yehoshua: purification by elevation above nature
Ruaḥ ra’ah - the inner-Pharaoh connection
Eruvin 41b speaks of a ruaḥ ra'ah - an evil sprit that removes a person from their own understanding and from the understanding of their Creator.
This is the spirit that distorts clarity, compresses faith, and urges retreat.
The “spirit” that distorts clarity, compresses faith, and urges retreat.
The “spirit” that distorts clarity, compresses faith, and urges retreat.
