Summary of the day

Shabbat Shirah is the Shabbat on which we read Parashat Beshalach, with the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15), which the Israelites sang after the sea split and the Egyptians drowned. It falls at or near Tu BiShvat, and is marked with emphasis: the song is read standing, in a special melody, and in many communities Perek Shira is recited.

The mitzvot of the day

• Reading the Song of the Sea (“Az Yashir”) standing and in a special melody, together with “Vayosha Hashem”.
• Feeding the birds: it is customary to put out wheat and breadcrumbs for the birds, recalling the story in the Talmud and Midrash about the manna that did not fall on Shabbat and the birds that ate it.
• Perek Shira: in Sephardic and many other communities it is customary to read Perek Shira on this Shabbat, the song of all creation to its Creator (see our interactive Perek Shira).
• The Shabbat meal with songs, and in some communities the Song of the Sea is also sung on Friday night.

Origin in history

The song was sung about three thousand four hundred years ago, at the Exodus from Egypt. The Sages expound it at length, and it is Israel’s everlasting refrain: “The Lord shall reign for ever and ever” (15:18). In the book of Judges, the Song of Deborah (chapter 5) tells of the victory over Sisera, commander of the army of Jabin king of Canaan, thanks to Deborah the prophetess and Barak son of Abinoam. For the custom of feeding the birds, tradition tells of Dathan and Abiram, who scattered manna on Shabbat to prove that Moses was lying, and the birds came and ate it.

The message for today

After salvation comes song: we cannot stay silent after a miracle. “Perek Shira” teaches that all creation, from the bird to the blade of grass, sings to its Creator. So Shabbat Shirah becomes a chance to look at nature, to give thanks for what we have, and to feed those who have none. And in the winter days between Tu BiShvat and Purim, it reminds us that the beauty of the world is a source of faith.