"One must joyfully recite the Song of the Sea [Az Yashir] during one's daily morning psalms. One should picture oneself as having crossed the Sea of Reeds that same day. Whoever recites Az Yashir joyfully is forgiven for his sins." (Orach Chaim 51:7; Mishnah Berurah 17). If there is great virtue to reciting Az Yashir joyfully on a daily basis, all the more so on the seventh day of Pesach, the day the sea was split for us.
Indeed, numerous communities have a custom of reciting Az Yashir on the seventh night, joyfully and en masse, as Rabbi Charlop used to do in Jerusalem.
Az Yashir is the victory song of the Jewish People over their enemies. It goes back to Israel's inception as a nation when they exited Egypt. At that time, "Pharaoh's horse came into the sea, along with his chariot corps and cavalry, and G-d made the sea come back on them." (Exodus 15:19) It will likewise remain our victory song until the end of days, when the Third Temple will be rebuilt ? speedily in our day: "O bring them and plant them on the mount You possess. The place You dwell in is Your accomplishment, O L-rd. The shrine of the L-rd Your hands have founded." (15:17)
Today, we are living in the generation of the ingathering of the exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Regarding the verse, "The L-rd does build up Jerusalem; He gathers together the dispersed of Israel," (Psalm 147:2) our sages comment: "When shall G-d rebuild Jerusalem? When He gathers together the dispersed of Israel." (Berachot 49a) We can see with our own eyes how the end of Az Yashir is being fulfilled: "With love, You led the people You redeemed. With might, You led them to Your holy shrine." (Exodus 15:13)
At the same time, when Israel's enemies hear about the rebirth of the Jewish People, they grow full of anger and resentment: "Nations heard and grew angry." (verse 14) Yet they are then seized with fear: "Terror gripped those who dwell in Philistia?. Canaan's residents melted away. Fear and dread fell upon them." (15-16) They then avoid attacking us, because they are seized with fear and dread due to the power of the Israeli army, which is the army of G-d.
The day is not far off when we will be privileged to see with our own eyes the fulfillment of G-d's promise: "At last, the people You acquired shall cross over, O L-rd." (verse 16) As a result, "The L-rd will reign forever and ever." (verse 18) Then, G-d's kingdom will be revealed throughout the world. That is Israel's triumph, as it says, "The L-rd shall be King over all the earth. On that day shall the L-rd be one and His name one." (Zechariah 14:9)
Indeed, numerous communities have a custom of reciting Az Yashir on the seventh night, joyfully and en masse, as Rabbi Charlop used to do in Jerusalem.
Az Yashir is the victory song of the Jewish People over their enemies. It goes back to Israel's inception as a nation when they exited Egypt. At that time, "Pharaoh's horse came into the sea, along with his chariot corps and cavalry, and G-d made the sea come back on them." (Exodus 15:19) It will likewise remain our victory song until the end of days, when the Third Temple will be rebuilt ? speedily in our day: "O bring them and plant them on the mount You possess. The place You dwell in is Your accomplishment, O L-rd. The shrine of the L-rd Your hands have founded." (15:17)
Today, we are living in the generation of the ingathering of the exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Regarding the verse, "The L-rd does build up Jerusalem; He gathers together the dispersed of Israel," (Psalm 147:2) our sages comment: "When shall G-d rebuild Jerusalem? When He gathers together the dispersed of Israel." (Berachot 49a) We can see with our own eyes how the end of Az Yashir is being fulfilled: "With love, You led the people You redeemed. With might, You led them to Your holy shrine." (Exodus 15:13)
At the same time, when Israel's enemies hear about the rebirth of the Jewish People, they grow full of anger and resentment: "Nations heard and grew angry." (verse 14) Yet they are then seized with fear: "Terror gripped those who dwell in Philistia?. Canaan's residents melted away. Fear and dread fell upon them." (15-16) They then avoid attacking us, because they are seized with fear and dread due to the power of the Israeli army, which is the army of G-d.
The day is not far off when we will be privileged to see with our own eyes the fulfillment of G-d's promise: "At last, the people You acquired shall cross over, O L-rd." (verse 16) As a result, "The L-rd will reign forever and ever." (verse 18) Then, G-d's kingdom will be revealed throughout the world. That is Israel's triumph, as it says, "The L-rd shall be King over all the earth. On that day shall the L-rd be one and His name one." (Zechariah 14:9)