Parshat Beshalach opens as the Jews begin to leave Egypt. Pharaoh - who in last week’s portion demanded that the Jews leave Egypt - changes his mind, and decides to pursue them. His armies advance on the Jews and trap them at the banks of the Red Sea. G-d instructs Moses to raise his hands; when he does so, the Red Sea miraculously splits. The Jews are able to cross to the other side. When the Egyptians enter the split sea, G-d tells Moses to raise his hands once again. This time the sea comes crashing down, and the Egyptian army is destroyed. Led by Moses, the Jewish People sing the Az Yashir song, an expression of gratitude to G-d for redeeming them from slavery and for protecting them from the Egyptian armies.

Soon after, the Jews complain that there is no food. G-d responds by sending manna, a miraculous food that falls from the sky six days a week (a double portion for Shabbat falls on Friday). The manna engendered a continuous awareness of and belief in G-d, as each day the Jews knew that they could rely only on Him for their sustenance.

The portion concludes as the Jews are maliciously attacked by the nation of Amalek, whom they defeat. G-d promises that all traces of the Amalekites will eventually be erased.