Another Take on Manna — BT Yoma 76a — #35

שאלו תלמידיו את רבי שמעון בן יוחי מפני מה לא ירד להם לישראל מן פעם אחת בשנה? אמר להם אמשול לכם משל. למה הדבר דומה? למלך בשר ודם שיש לו בן אחד פסק לו מזונותיו פעם אחת בשנה ולא היה מקביל פני אביו אלא פעם אחת בשנה. עמד ופסק מזונותיו בכל יום והיה מקביל פני אביו כל יום. אף ישראל: מי שיש לו ארבעה וחמשה בנים היה דואג ואומר: שמא לא ירד מן למחר ונמצאו כולן מתים ברעב. נמצאו כולן מכוונים את לבם לאביהן שבשמים. דבר אחר: שהיו אוכלין אותו כשהוא חם. דבר אחר: מפני משאוי הדרך וכבר היה

R. Simon b. Yochai was asked by his disciples, “Why didn’t the manna come down to Israel once each year?” He replied: “I shall explain by a parable. This may be compared to a king of flesh and blood who had one son, whom he provided with food once a year, and so [his son] would visit his father [only] once a year. Thereupon he provided his food every day, and he visited his father daily. So, too, Israel. One who had four or five children would worry and say: ‘Perhaps no manna will fall tomorrow, and everyone will die of hunger.’ Therefore, everyone directed their hearts to God in Heaven.” Another interpretation: They ate it while it was still warm. Another interpretation: Because of the weight of carrying it along the way.

INTRODUCTION

I am including the Talmudic text in addition to a translation this week because it is written in relatively simple Hebrew. For those who enjoy the Hebrew, have fun!  

One week after leaving Egypt, the Israelites find themselves at the shore of the Reed Sea. We recount their harrowing crossing and the miraculous redemption they experienced on the seventh day of Passover.  Six weeks out of Egypt, the people complain of hunger—they experience severe food insecurity. God responds by raining down manna from heaven each night; the people find it covering the ground when they awaken in the morning. Since they are prohibited from gathering manna on Shabbat, God provides a double portion on Friday morning (the two loaves of challah on the shabbat dinner table Friday night recall the double portion of manna). Israel’s complaints and grumbling are generally viewed negatively by both the Torah and the Rabbis—evidence that the people lack faith in God to protect them, even after the miracles of the Ten Plagues, the Exodus, and the Parting of the Reed Sea. Occasionally, however, the Rabbis evince a refreshingly compassionate view.

COMMENTARY

R. Shimon b. Yochai’s students wonder why God provides manna daily, rather than once a year. At this time of year, we are tempted to compare manna with matzah, since year-old matzah tastes pretty much the same as new matzah: it starts out tasting stale. If it makes little difference, why does God go to the trouble to provide it daily? Talmud supplies three possible answers. 

The first answer, from R. Shimon b. Yochai, comes in the form of a mashal (parable or allegory). Parables abound in rabbinic literature. To decode them, we need to know that the earthly king is always a stand-in for God, and the son or servant is always a stand-in for Israel. The king (God) owes his son (Israel) support—note there is no question about that—and sends a yearly allowance. The result is that the son visits only once a year. Rethinking the plan, the king gives his son money every day and discovers that as a result, the son visits each day, if only to collect his allowance. Note there is no criticism of the son for visiting but once a year when the money is provided on a yearly basis. However, the frequent payments provide an opportunity for father and son to visit with one another frequently, reconnect, and maintain a close relationship. This is what God wants with Israel: close and frequent contact.

We are given two other possible responses to R. Shimon’s students’ query. Perhaps God provides manna daily so that it will be fresh and warm when the Israelites eat it each day. God wants to provide them not only nourishment, but pleasure in eating. Or perhaps God provides manna daily because otherwise the Israelites would have to haul many months worth  of manna as they traveled. This would be a weighty burden to shlep through the Wilderness. God wants to lighten their load.

All three responses posit a loving God who is not resentful of the Israelites’ “grumbling.” In this snippet of Talmud, the Rabbis view the Israelites’ fear of starvation as first and foremost an expression of concern about their children’s health and welfare. God does not respond with resentment (“Okay, here, have some manna and quit kvetching!”) but rather with thoughts of how the manna could be delivered to strengthen the bond between God and Israel, provide them with enjoyment (not just nourishment), without compounding the burden of journeying through the wilderness.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS

1. There are often two ways to view, and even or interpret, what people say: The not-so-generous way is to accuse the Israelites of lacking faith in God. In our passage, the Rabbis demonstrate the generous way. When have you had a choice to interpret an event or conversation generously or not-so-generously? Which did you choose?
2. How important is it to you to feed your family and guests tasty and enjoyable food? Why?
3. God no longer rains down manna to feed hungry people. At the Passover seder, we say, “Let all who are hungry, come and eat.” Food insecurity is a terrible scourge found not only in far corners of the world, but far closer to home. Please learn more at the website of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and consider making a donation—you can provide much-needed manna to hungry people.