I would like to change things up a bit for just one week and focus on some of the powerful lessons we can learn from the manna that Hashem sent down from Heaven, sustaining the Jewish people in the desert for 40 years, as recorded in this week’s parsha, Beshalach.

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, behold I am going to rain down bread from the heavens, and the nation will go out and collect what is needed for that day so that I can test them – whether or not they follow my Laws” ~ Exodus, 16:4

The disciples of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai asked him: Why could the Manna not have fallen just once a year?

He replied: I will give you an example.  If a mortal king has a son, and gives him his needs once a year, the son then only see his father that one time.  But if he gives him his needs each day, then he sees his father every day.

The same is true of the Israelites.  He has four or five children, and worries “Maybe the Manna will not descend tomorrow, and they will all die of starvation.”  He therefore directs his heart to his Father in heaven each day. ~ Talmud, Yoma 76a