Counting the Omer: Day 6 — Parting of the Sea

By Davi Cheng

Today is the 7th day of Passover; 6th day of Counting the Omer. Traditionally on this day we read the special Torah portion Exodus 13:17 – 15:26, where God led the Israelite out of Egypt in a pillar of clouds by day, and a pillar of fire by night all the way to the edge of the sea, and we read the dramatic parting of the sea again.

Why are we reading this over again on the 7th day? Haven’t we crossover to the other side already? Did you see yourself physically going across? Every year we read and be reminded about this miraculous event, I think for most of us we understood this as a story, a metaphor of liberation from oppression. It is hard for us to see the sea actually parting.

What if I tell you that every spring at the island of Jindo in Korea, thousands of people come together to wait for the sea to part? It is a “Sea Festival” celebration. Legend tells of a grandmother, separated from her family prayed so hard to God that the sea parted for her to walk across. Below is the link to a short video telling of the story and showing the parting of the sea.

Imagine yourself leaving Egypt and walking across this vast Sea of Reed with the Israelite.

Have a good journey, and hope we don’t stop to dig for clams.