One of the customs associated with this Shabbos is to place crumbs outside for the birds to eat. (As to the Halachik correctness of this custom, see Shulchan Aruch Orech Chayim 324.) We read in the Torah on this week about G-d giving the "Man", manna, to the nation of Israel, for their sustenance. Moshe told the nation of Israel that the Man would not fall on Shabbos, and therefore they should collect a double portion on Friday. There were rabble-rousers who wanted to embarrass Moshe and weaken his authority. They took Man they had collected on Friday, and after dark placed it out on the ground. Come morning, they hoped that people would think that the Man did indeed fall on Shabbos, and Moshe, who they contended made up the laws as he went along, was wrong. However, no Man was around on Shabbos morning. Why? Because the birds carried it away before the nation awoke, so that the nation would indeed trust in Moshe and respect the sanctity of the Shabbos about which Moshe spoke. To reward the birds for this noble deed, we feed them the week on which we read of the surrounding incident, the week of Beshalach.

The Sefer HaToda'ah mentions an additional reason why we feed the birds this week. The chirping of birds is not just idle song. It is the way that birds praise G-d for providing them with their needs. Because, on this week, we too sing praise of G-d, we recognize the constant song of praise chirped by the birds by feeding them, as a form of reward.

Why should we reward birds for their song of praise? Why is the "faith" of the birds more deserving of recognition than expressions from other creations?

The splitting of the Red Sea marked a milestone in the genesis of the nation of Israel. The event had a profound effect on the entire nation. The Torah tells us (Shmos 14:31-15:1) "And Israel saw the great work which the Hashem did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared Hashem and believed Hashem, and his servant Moshe; Then sang Moshe and the people of Israel this song to Hashem. . . ." The nation reached a level of faith and trust in G-d that they had not previously achieved. Although they witnessed ten plagues, their faith in G-d was not complete. Any reaction of thanks they had until that point was one that stemmed from amazement and awe. After the splitting of the sea, they sang a song of thanks. After the miracle ended and the power of the enormity of the miracle to cause awe began to wane, they sang a song of thanks. After they recognized the true Divine Providence of G-d and appreciated that G-d provides everything for everyone, after they _believed_ in G-d, "then sang Moshe and the people of Israel."

Click here to continue reading.