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Why did Hashem (ה׳) structure the manna to be collected daily, creating apparent insecurity instead of providing stored food? The shiur argues that the manna was never about physical sustenance—Bnei Yisrael were already wealthy from bitzas hayam and could buy food from non-Jews. Rather, the manna was Hashem's daily gift affirming His love, like eating at the King's table, making the eating itself a spiritual relationship-building experience.
The shiur opens with a fundamental question on the system of the manna described in Parshas Beshalach. Rashi (רש"י) states that the daily collection of manna—taking only what is needed for that day and not collecting on Shabbos (שבת)—serves as a test whether Bnei Yisrael will observe the entire Torah (תורה). But why does this particular mitzvah (מצוה) become the litmus test for all Torah observance? Rabbi Zweig challenges the conventional understanding by questioning why Hashem (ה׳) would create such an uncomfortable system in the first place. The daily collection creates tremendous insecurity—no one has what they need for tomorrow, only for today. This stands in stark contrast to the normal human desire for financial security, which is particularly pronounced in American culture but was less emphasized even in pre-war European Jewish communities. The system seems almost cruel: the food for tomorrow is literally in front of you, but you cannot touch it. Why would Hashem set up such an anxiety-producing arrangement when He could simply provide stored food?
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Parshas Beshalach - The Manna
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