Thought of the week - Beshalach

In this weeks portion it talks about the actual redemption. In continuation to last weeks thought, as to G-d coming to us and after that we become close to Him, this week talks about both G-d and the jews are united as one. It talks about the Jews traveling in the desert right before receiving the Ten Commandments. It also tells how G-d made the Manna descend from heaven.

The Rebbe M. M. Schneersohn explains this in a very clear way! There is a rule in the Jewish Code of Law. If one is traveling in a place where he cannot keep count of what day it is for whatever reason, one must start counting seven days from the last day he remembers. (I.e he believes that he set out on his journey on a Monday, which was about 3 days ago. However he is unsure if it was truly a Monday that he has embarked on this journey. The Law requires him to count as though it was Monday that he set out. Now three days later, it is Thursday.) Another problem arises. What portion of the Torah should he read on this Shabbos? He doesn't remember which portion it is! It is a requirement in the Law that the portion talking about the Manna shall be read.
Here we find in many different Laws the great combination between the Shabbath and the Manna. Another example would be the Law that requires three Shabbath festive meals. It derives from a verse in the portion of the Manna.

Thirdly,the Law of two full breads for the Hamotzi on Friday night and Shabbat Day meals, were also derived from the Manna which is called Lechem Mishneh
(Doubled Bread).

However the Rebbe askes; Many things that Shabbat has, has nothing to do with the manna at all. Such as the 39 Melachot (Sabbitical prohibitions regarding tasks.) The only two things that the Manna and Shabbat have in common is:

1. The fact of not being able to go out and collect the bread on shabbat. (This is the Law of carrying in public domain, forbidden on the shabbat) and...


2. the above mentioned things we learn out of the Manna Portion.

The Manna is also very different than Shabbat for the Manna came in different ways and different places for different people. For the righteous people the Manna was fully Leavened bread that fell right at their door steps. As for the not so righteous people, were given cookies (or unleavend bread) and on the other side of town. Whereas the wicked had hard rock like flour which they needed to grind up and bake into unlevend bread. They also had to collect them outside of town.
The difference between the Manna and Shabbat, is that Shabbat is for everyone. So why should this law (when a person is lost and has no idea what portion he should read) necessarily be the portion disscussing Manna?

The Rebbe then brrought a very beautifull explantion to this complicated question.
True there are many diffrences between Manna and Shabbat. Shabbat is the day of rest from the whole week of toiling and sweat bearing just to put bread on the table. However in the desert they had no toiling for it came straight from the sky.
In our life today we are not guaranteed that the grain will grow, or the produce will be good or healthy enough to eat. But in the times of the desert even the wicked had flour. Yes they needed to grind it etc. but they were guaranteed that it was going to be good and healthy food! Hence the blessing we say on bread today 'Hamotzi Lechem Min Haaretz' ('He who takes out bread from the earth.') The blessing for the Manna was however 'Hamotzi Lechem Min Hashamayim' ('He who takes out bread from the skys.')
So what is the great comparisson between Shabbat and the Manna?
Shabbat will come whether you like it or not. There is no hard work in order to get it. It's there, and will come automaticaly, guaranteed just like the Manna. However our daily bread is not guaranteed. Hence we must pray to G-d and Trust Him that He'll send us a blessing to put bread on the table. This is also what G-d means in the Verse.

"So the Lord said to Moses, Behold! I am going to rain down for you bread from heaven, and the people shall go out and gather what is needed for the day, so that I can test them, whether or not they will follow My teaching."

(16:4)
G-d was testing the Jews' trust in Him even with something guaranteed.

From this we learn, says The Rebbe. G-d guarantees a livelyhood to every being just as the Shabbat is guaranteed. Even though it doesn't seem guaranteed to have bread on your table, however G-d promises you to have it. All He askes for is for you to simply trust in Him that He'll give it to you. If there ever comes a time when you're out of work, or you're unable to pay the rent, you should contemplate and realise that you might be lacking in your trust in G-d. You should not worry about anything, and just leave it in G-d's hands. This of course doesn't mean sit back and let G-d do all the work. It is true that you must go out and look for it. (Just as every one including the righteous had to go out of their houses to collect the Manna). However you must pray to G-d to help you out and believe with the fullest trust that G-d will help somehow!

Remeber you can make a difference in this mudane world, all you gotta do is do only good!!!

© Thought of the Week - Yermi Kurkus

Derived from the teachings of Rebbe M. M. Schneersohn - Talmud- Code of Jewish Law