Mi Chamocha – Old Words, Still A New Song

By Hazzan Jacob Sandler.

This week we read parashat Beshallach, a Torah portion near and dear to my heart. In it we read the dramatic conclusion of the escape from Egypt at the Sea of Reeds. When we reach the other side, the Torah teaches, “Az yashir moshe uv’nei Yisrael et haShira hazot…” So Moses and the Israelites sang this song AKA The Song of The Sea. This is the very first time that the word for singing/song is used in the entire Torah, and by extension the entire Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). 

One line in this magnificent first song is exceedingly popular. We recite it every morning, and every evening in our liturgy, as part of the blessing after Shema. The words of “Mi Chamocha.”

מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִים | יְהֹוָה, מִי כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת עֹשֵׂה פֶלֶא

“Mi chamocha ba-elim Hashem? Mi kamocha ne’edar bakodesh – nora tehillot oseh feleh?”

Who is like You, Hashem among the [so-called] ‘gods’? Who is like You glorified in holiness, awesome in splendor, Maker of wonders? 

This rhetorical question is answered in our Shabbat morning Torah service: “Ein Kamocha ba-elohim Hashem, ve’ein kema’asecha!” There is none like You in the godhead Hashem, and nothing like Your creation. 

“Mi Chamocha” has inspired a lot of great musical settings – some we sing in the sanctuary and some that you might find on Jewish Rock Radio. Even Stephen Schwartz quoted this text in Prince Of Egypt – that movie is incredible by the way – the accuracy in visual and musical detail with regard to the Torah text and midrashic interpretation is astoundingly gorgeous and inspired. But I digress. 

If you’re a spotify user, check out this playlist called “Mi Chamocha Jukebox” and hear for yourself how diverse the musical interpretations of this text can be. On it you’ll find household names like Rick Recht, Dan Nichols, Debbie Friedman and David Broza (who’s coming to Beth El by the way! May 15th! Be there!) alongside some younger artists I’m honored to call friends. You’ll hear pop, folk, traditional, americana and more. Listen to the way the melodies tell a different story about the text. Imagine the different services (morning and evening) or different audiences they wrote for. Listen also to the different original English lyrics or interpretive translations. If you find a favorite or one version that resonates with you, let me know! I’d be so interested to hear what it means to you. And if you’re so inclined, consider how you would sing these ancient words. 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6YipnsnNOAnWik1ZMjclje?si=0b2c10bfd01e4982 

This is just a small sample, as I couldn’t even find every single tune I know on Spotify. But it’s a testament to how these words from the very first song we sang as a people – from Parashat Beshallach – have reverberated for thousands of years and are still inspiring us today.