This week’s parshah is Beshalach (Shemot 13:17-17:16), where we find Shirat HaYam (the Song of the Sea). It’s one of the most powerful moments in Torah. After we crossed the Red Sea and witnessed the destruction of those that oppressed us, in true Jewish fashion, we erupt into a spontaneous song of gratitude and praise. But this moment isn’t just about celebrating survival, but is also deeply tied to the concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

“But how?” you ask. This is a very good question. Tikkun olam is about fixing what is broken, whether that is in society, in justice systems, or within ourselves. Shirat HaYam is a song where once enslaved people stand together as free individuals and honor a world where oppression has been overturned. This is the essence of tikkun olam: transforming a world of suffering into one of redemption.

It’s sung together, reflecting the idea that healing the world is a collective responsibility. They are no longer just a group of freed slaves. They are now a people with a shared mission. Tikkun olam isn’t about on person fixing the world. It’s about everyone coming together to create something greater than themselves.

When Pharaoh’s army drowned, the world is repaired. Evil loses its grip, and justice prevails. Shirat HaYam is not just a victory song, but a recognition that for the world to be whole, oppression must end.

One of the most famous lines from this song is “The Lord shall reign forever and ever” (Shemot 15:18). At first glance, this seems like a declaration of God’s eternal rule, but let’s look more closely. Before this, Egypt was ruled by Pharaoh’s unchecked power, where cruelty and injustice thrived. So when they sing, “The Lord shall reign forever and ever,” they proclaim that the world should no longer be ruled by forces of destruction but by principles of holiness and fairness. Replacing what is broken. It’s a vision for better and transformed world.

It also says “forever and ever” (לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד), suggesting that the work of establishing a just world is ongoing. Tikkun olam isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous effort. Our ancestors had seen just one form of injustice defeated, but new challenges would come. In the Amidah prayer, we echo this verse when we say “Tikkun Olam B’malchut Shaddai” (to repair the world under the sovereignty of God). This reinforces the idea that God’s reign isn’t just about belief, but about creating a world that is just, kind, and ethical.

At the end of the song, Miriam takes a timbrel and lead the women in dance. Fighting oppression is important yes, but so is bring about joy. Tikkun olam isn’t just about what we remove (the suffering and injustice), but also what we create in its place.

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Call to Action

Our ancestors sang because they saw a glimpse of a better world. Now, it’s our responsibility to keep singing—and keep building that world.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Where does oppression and injustice still exist?
• How can we come together as a community to bring about healing?
• What can we celebrate, even as we continue working to repair the world?