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Parshat Ekev
Daniel Kraus
It was the ideal form of food – easy on the waist, delicious, nourishing and healthy. The manna, the miraculous food which sustained the nation of Israel for 40 years in the desert was a gift from God. Yet for some reason the Torah calls it a test: “He fed you in the wilderness with manna in order to put you to the test” (Devarim. 8:3,16). The famous Spanish Philosopher, Abarbanel remarks, “Surely this was a great kindness, not a test!”
In what way was it a test? We turn to Rashi who explains that the people were in fact being tested to see whether they obeyed the command not to leave any manna overnight and not to collect it on the Shabbat (a double portion fell on
Friday, enough to sustain one for Shabbat). The manna was a gift that came with conditions. If the people fell on it like
savages and ignored the rules imposed by G-d, they would have failed the test.
There is a greater life lesson to be learnt from this. Life, like the manna, is a gift, but it comes with certain conditions. If we say, “It’s my own life and I can do what I like with it,” we fail the test. It shows that we cannot be trusted with a
precious gift. If we live without restraints and standards we injure ourselves and waste all of our potential. Yet if we
cherish every moment and act with moderation and
responsibility, we pass with flying colors.
Shabbat Shalom!
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