Towards the beginning of our parsha, Moshe reviews Am Yisrael’s experience in the desert following the Exodus from Egypt. He recalls their long journey, and the miraculous ways that God took care of them- highlighting the miracle of the manna that fell each day from heaven, providing Bnei Yisrael with daily sustenance.
Yet the reason Moshe ascribes to God for sending the manna seems counterintuitive. Moshe declares (8:16) that God provided the manna, “lma’an anot’cha ul’maan nasotecha, in order to afflict you and in order to test you.” Many commentators find this reason for the manna startling. Wasn’t the manna an incredible miracle—food falling from heaven every day? In what way was it a test or affliction?
The commentaries suggest a few explanations. Many point out that while the manna was certainly a miracle, it was also a challenging test for Am Yisrael—as they were completely dependent on God for their daily portions. They couldn’t save from one day to the next, nor could they prepare food in advance. This understandably increased the concern of many in the nation from day to day, as they were challenged to have complete belief in Hashem that He would provide them with the daily sustenance that they needed.
Rav Hirsch (8:3) takes things a step further. He notes that ultimately, the purpose of the test of the manna was to ingrain within the nation a deep understanding that God is the source for all their sustenance, always. As Moshe himself notes (8:3), God gave Am Yisrael the manna “in order to make you know that not by bread alone does man live, rather by everything that emanates from the mouth of God does man live.” In this way, even when Am Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael, and provided for themselves through more natural means, they would still remember that, ultimately, all their successes come from Hashem. Although God’s involvement is less clearly felt when the food is acquired through human efforts, Rav Hirsch suggests that the 40 years of receiving the manna served as a “preparatory school for the course of our lives,” inculcating an understanding that all that we receive really comes from God.
In today’s world, it’s hard to feel clearly that our sustenance and parnasa come from Hashem. We’re more detached than ever from the agricultural processes that provide us with our food, and world globalization creates more variety than ever before. In addition, as science, business and technology continue to develop at rapid paces unheard of in past decades, man’s sense of accomplishment and self-pride continues to grow exponentially—exactly as the Torah had predicted and warned against.
This is the world in which our kids are growing up—a world where they are surrounded by tremendous success and materialism, yet without any sense or thought of where it all comes from. Today’s kids are known as the “I” generation, with an added focus on one’s own needs and accomplishments. It’s therefore crucial that we fight against this “kochi v’otzem yadi” complex by reminding ourselves that God is the source of all that we have—and work hard to instill this understanding within our children as well.
A couple of practical suggestions how we can impart this knowledge to our children and ourselves:
1) Brachot are an easy and powerful way to remind us that all that we eat really belongs to Hashem, and it’s only through His kindness that we may eat it. Brachot transform the animalistic act of eating into an opportunity to thank God for what we have, reminding us that He is the source of everything.
We should encourage our children to make brachot from a young age. However, emphasis shouldn’t simply be on saying the proper words, but on understanding what they are saying. One suggestion is to translate the content of the bracha for the child: After saying the bracha of ha’etz on an apple, then add “Thank you Hashem for the yummy apple.” In this way, the child practices the correct nusach while also understanding the content of what he is saying.
2) We must talk about Hashem, both in general, and particularly within the context of parnasa and our financial successes. When discussing one’s job with the family, the conversation must include an appreciation that God has blessed him with a job that enables him to care for their needs. Periodically, one should express a sense of appreciation to God for providing for one’s family. When the family is able to partake in a leisurely activity that is not standard, the parents should help their children recognize the blessings that God has given them. The more that God is present in conversations surrounding financial matters, the more we, and our children, will realize that our success is due to Him.
As Am Yisrael prepares to enter Eretz Yisrael, Moshe recounts their experience in the midbar, provided for fully by God through the manna. According to Rav Hirsch, the experience of the manna in the desert was specifically aimed towards inculcating within the nation a recognition that God is the source of all sustenance. In today’s advanced world, this awareness is very hard to cultivate—and we must exert extra effort to instill within ourselves, and our children, the recognition that all is from Hashem.
Rav Yossi Goldin is the menahel tichon at Yeshivas Pe’er HaTorah, Rebbe at Midreshet Tehilla, and Placement Advisor/Internship Coordinator for the YU/RIETS Kollel. He lives with his family in Shaalvim and can be reached at [email protected]
