Torah Portfoil

Making The Best
Of What We Have

God provided them with a different
kind of food, the manna, "bread from
heaven," food which not only alleviat-
ed the physical hunger, but could
bring personal contentment.
The commentators find great
meaning in some of the nuances of
this story. For example, Moses warns
fter having been liberated
that no one should leave any of the
from Egypt, and witnessing
manna left over until morning. Some
the miracle at the Sea of
disobeyed, collecting more than was
Reeds, the Israelites soon
required of them and discovered their
began to complain.
food infested with maggots.
They cried that there was
While an obvious lesson
not enough food for them to
would be a warning against
survive in the wilderness
being greedy and hoarding
(there probably was). They
more than is necessary, a
shouted that it would have
more valuable moral for us
been better to remain in
is derived from a rabbinic
slavery in Egypt than face
parable:
the uncertainties of the
A king had a son to
desert; they would surely
whom he gave an annual
starve or be attacked and
allowance, funds sufficient
RABBI
killed.
for
his needs throughout the
NORMAN T.
Their anxieties were
whole year. Over time, the
RO MAN
understandable, after all, for
son began to distance him-
Special to The
they were only weeks into
self from the palace, remem-
Jewish News
their freedom, only days
bering and visiting his
removed from 400 years of
father only once each year,
slavery. Who was this God who was
when it was necessary to draw the
promising them such a bright future?
allowance.
Who really was this Moses character,
The king who loved his son, was
whom they
distraught
had dared to
at the sepa-
follow in
ration,
darkness out
until one of
of Egypt?
his advisers
God and
suggested
Moses at least
that the
at this point
allowance
in our Torah's
be made
sto ry,
into a daily
responded to
portion,
the people's
enough
doubts with
only for
love and
each day
instruction.
instead of
In Egyptian
the whole
slavery, the
year. Then
Israelites had
the king
plenty to eat,
would be
sufficient to
certain to
survive; but it
see his son
was the "bread
more often!
of oppres-
Similarly,
sion," the
Moses'
consumption
message is
Moses and Aaron berfore Pharaoh.
of which
plain to
could not
see:
have brought
Sending the people out daily for
them any satisfaction other than
"bread from heaven" reminds them of
calming the pangs of hunger.
God's providence. We need to wit-
In the wilderness, though, during
ness, experience, and give thanks for
their first experience with freedom,
God's presence in our lives each day
and not wait for an assumed, once-a-
Norman T. Roman is rabbi of Temple year allowance.

Shabbat Beshalach:
Exodus 13:17-17•16•
Judges 4:4-5:31.

A

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