By Emily Rogal, Jewish Life Specialist
There is an Ashkenazi tradition to feed birds prior to Shabbat Shirah. While people point to many reasons for this (because Judaism), one points back to Exodus Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic midrash (fanfiction) about the book of Exodus. The text offers that when G!d split the sea, trees bearing apple and pomegranates appeared. Birds – their own symbols of freedom for their ability to fly – ate from the fruit and sang out in praise of the Israelites’ freedom.
What I love most about this story is that it isn’t enough for us to sing about our own freedom, but that the literal fruits of our liberation allowed for other beings to join in our collective song. Just as we raise matzah during our Passover seder to invite all those who are hungry to eat, perhaps we feed birds on Shabbat Shirah to symbolically invite all of those who are downtrodden, imprisoned, captured, and alone to – like us – open their mouths and sing.
If you’re looking for some joyous, freedom-centered jams (Jewish and not) to get you in the Shabbat Shirah vibe, consider this your official sacred bird feeding playlist.
