Parashat Beshalach
By Adi Alouf | Director of Student and Jewish Life, Jewish Studies Teacher
Bnei Israel has just crossed the Red Sea and been liberated from Egypt, marking their birth as a nation. On the other side, as they venture into the wilderness, Bnei Israel has to learn to balance their newfound freedom with the reality of dependence on God. They are starting to learn about their own needs. They are in their infancy as a nation.
When they complain of hunger, preferring the familiarity of Egypt to the uncertainty of the desert, God responds by providing manna – a food that falls from the sky each day for people to collect according to their needs. This provision will continue for 40 years until they reach Canaan. This is temporary, transitional sustenance as they grow and develop as a nation, much like an infant who begins with milk before being able to handle solid foods. Only as Bnei Israel matures will they be ready to provide for themselves more independently.
The manna is not just a source of physical sustenance, but a lesson and daily exercise in faith, community, mindfulness, and discipline. Through it, God teaches Bnei Israel how to develop a humble relationship with resources. Moses instructs them to gather only what they need each day—nothing more, nothing less. This teaches them to be attuned to their true needs, resisting the temptation for excess, even when it seems like resources are abundant. These lessons are critical tools for Bnei Israel’s thriving in their freedom. Eventually, once they settle in Canaan, they will need the same balance and discipline in managing resources equitably, especially as they abide by the agrarian practices that require restraint and community-mindedness, like shmita, yovel, leket, and peah.
They are also told not to hoard the manna, learning to trust that God will provide for them again the next day. On the sixth day, however, they are to gather a double portion, as no manna will fall on Shabbat. This teaches them to prepare and plan, as well as to honor Shabbat.
True gratitude is not just about being thankful for what is given, but also about how one receives—without excess, without waste. God wants Bnei Israel to cultivate a mindful and sustainable relationship with resources.
God then instructs Moses to preserve an omer of manna in a jar, to be kept as a reminder for future generations. Unlike the manna that spoils after one day, the manna in the jar will remain fresh, preserving a tangible memory of God’s care. We are often told to remember the Exodus—God’s mighty act of liberation—but here, we are given a physical object, a time capsule, to help us recall God’s provision in a more immediate and concrete way.
The jar of manna is not only a symbol for future generations but also a teaching tool for Bnei Israel. As they struggle with scarcity and abundance, saving some manna becomes part of God’s lesson on discipline and faith. By preserving the manna, God teaches them responsibility—not just for their own needs, but for the needs of the community, both now and in the future.
From this, we can be inspired to practice living in more balance— being mindful of our true needs and neither hoarding nor wasting. As you welcome in Shabbat this week, I encourage you to consider the following question:
- What do you need, and how do you know what you need? How do you discern your needs from your wants?
- Reflect on your own relationship with resources, abundance, and scarcity. How might you want to adjust this relationship to live even more mindfully?
- What does it mean to be a responsible steward, not just for your own needs, but for the needs of others, both in the present and in future generations?
Shabbat Shalom!