JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

	January 30 - February 27 2006

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This Month's Torah Portions:

Overview
The Departure From Egypt
The Miracle of the Manna
The Miracle of Drinking Water
Jethro

The Miracle of the Manna
Exodus Chapter 16, Verses 4- 20

Chapter 16, Verses 4 and 15:

Verse 4: "Vayomer Hashem El Moshe: Heeninnee Mamteer Lahem Lechem Meen Hashamyeem, Viyatza Ha'am Vilaktu Divar Yom Boyomo, Lima'an Anasehnu Hayeileich Bitoratee Eem Lo"

"And G-D said to Moses: Behold I will rain down for you bread from the sky and the nation will go out and gather what they need for each day, in order that I can test them about whether or not they will follow my Torah."

Verse 15: "Vayeer'ue Vinei Yisrael, Vayomru Eesh el Acheev: Man Hu, Kee Lo Yad'u Man Hu. Vayomer Moshe Aleihem: Hu Lechem Asher Natan Hashem Lachem Li'achla"

"And the Children of Israel saw, and each man said to his brother: What is this? Because they didn't know what it was. And Moses said to them: this is the bread that G-D has given you to eat."

Overview of the Biblical Text:

Along with the miracle of food from heaven (the "manna"), G-D, by speaking to Moses, gave laws for its collection and use. Not only was this miracle a privilege, but Rashi states that this was a test to see if the laws associated with the manna would be kept. The manna fell daily on a fresh layer of dew and was then covered by another layer of dew to maintain its freshness. It was collected each morning by each family with a designated amount allotted for each family member.

Chapter 16, Verses 19 and 20: "Vayomer Moshe Aleihem: Eesh Al Yoteir Meemenu Ad Boker. Vilo Sham'u El Moshe, Vayoteeru Anasheem Meemenu Ad Boker, Vayaroom Tola'eem Vayeev'ash, Vayeektzof Aleihem Moshe."

"And Moses said: No one may have extra of this until the next morning. And they did not listen to Moses and they left over [manna] until the morning and it became rotten with worms and it smelled bad, and Moses was angry with them."

Overview of the Biblical Text:

G-D warned the Children of Israel not to take more or less than the allotted daily amount of manna. The children of Israel were also warned not to save or hoard it for the future. This was a test of their faith in G-D -- to see if they were ready to rely solely on His miracles. On the first night there were people who were nervous that they would have no food for the next day and saved manna anyway. When they awoke, they found that their manna had become wormy and inedible. There was one exception to this rule. G-D did not send manna on Shabbat. Therefore, on Friday a double portion of manna was collected for both days. This was the only time the manna remained fresh overnight.

Laws regarding the Manna

An allotted amount must be collected for each family member-- no more and no less.
The manna must not be left overnight-- with the exception of Friday night.
Collect a double portion for each person on Friday (to last through the Sabbath).

Facts about the Manna

Our commentaries teach us that the manna had some unusual advantages:
It could be eaten raw or cooked.
It tasted like whatever one wished.
It was completely utilized by the body so that there was no waste (which means that no one had to go to the bathroom).

Discussion Questions:

Where does the food we eat come from?
Why do we need food?
If you were only allowed to eat one food for a whole month, what would it be? Why?
If the manna was such a big miracle, why didn't it come on Shabbat?