He was no longer conscious when he finally slid off the ship and splashed headfirst into the ocean. “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad…”
Moshe did eventually make the decision, with the blessing of his parents, to visit his family across the vast ocean. It was both nerve-wracking and exciting for the young city boy. Never before had he seen such vast waves, endless miles of glistening, pure ocean waters all around him.
But then a storm set in, and his trip turned from enjoyable to perilous and terrifying. Sailors ran to and fro trying to secure the ship while the captain barked orders. The passengers huddled in place, each praying to powers that could neither hear nor help them, except for one Jew, Moshe, who prayed to the only Source Who could calm the ferocious storm.
Moshe realized that this was an appropriate time to say Shema. This might be the last time he would ever utter those holy words ever again in his life… “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad!”
The waves intensified and the ship began to lurch onto its side, sending many people plunging into the dark, freezing cold waves. Moshe literally felt people sliding past him, bumping him as they went down, down, down into the sea, disappearing beneath the dark waters.
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