Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

Today, the 16^th of Iyar, is the day that the Mahn began to fall in the desert 3,333 years ago (See Rashi, Shemot 16:1, and Kiddushin 38A). This bread from heaven was similar to the well from which the Israelites drank in a distinct way. They both defied the natural order of how we eat and drink. Water usually comes to us from the heavens and bread from the ground. In the desert, bread came from the heavens and water came from the ground. Chazal say (Bava Metzia 86B) that this difference stems from Avraham’s hospitality to the three strangers who came to his tent. He offered himself, to bring them bread (Bereshit 18:5), but sent a messenger to get them water (v. 4), and God answered in kind. The bread in the desert came directly from God and the water came through a “messenger”, a well. Chazal also indicate (Berachot 48B) that established the 1^st blessing of Birkat Hamazon at this time to celebrate this most amazing of miracles. Sa’adiah Gaon, who famously attempts to explain Biblical miracles as part of God’s natural order, the miracle being that the event took place precisely when needed, agrees that the Mahn is the greatest miracle of the Torah.

The word itself is usually translated as “What is this?”, but I’d like to suggest that it may be an abbreviated form of “Mei’ahn” which means “Where did this come from?”, just as “L’ahn”, meaning where are we going, is often shortened to “Ahn”. Be that as it may, it behooves us this day to recognize and appreciate all of God’s miracles in nature and accentuate what we say every day, that we acknowledge God’s wonders and favors that He performs for us evening, morning, and afternoon.

Postscript:  In the prayer for dew that is added  to Mussaf on the first day of Pesach, Rabbi Eliezer Hakalir writes that the Mahn began to fall on the 15^th of Iyar. Also, the Chattam Sofer (Responsa Yoreh De’ah 2 : 233) maintains that what they took from Egypt lasted a month, and the mahn began to fall three days later on what would be the 18^th of Iyar, Lag B’Omer. In any event, let us have special Kavana when reciting Birkat Hamazon at this time to commemorate this great miracle, and God’s daily care for us.

Please join me in wishing Mazel Tov to Bracha and Avi Hirsch on the birth of a baby girl.

Stay safe.  Be healthy.   Be excellent.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org