Do not forget: This year 5764 (2004) Parshas Beshalach (Parshas Shirah) is also Tu B'Shevat

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Parshas Ha Mann

The Sages' understanding of human nature was absolute. That is why they introduced the possibility for individuals to daven for an income. The classic segulah for financial stability is to recite Parshat HaMann every day....

Talmud Yerushalmi: says:

One who recites Parshas Ha mann every day is assured that his food will not be lacking.

The Gemara tells us that the Manna is the bread of faith because it fell every morning for forty years. The only thing that Bnei Yisroel had to do was trust Hashem, they had to have complete emunah because there was nothing else they could do. Didn't they take it for granted that it would fall from the sky? This becomes clear when Bnei Yisroel get into Eretz Yisroel Yehoshua tells them to plant seeds in the ground. After receiving bread from the heavens for 40 years they were confused. After stepping into Eretz Yisroel they expected it to continue falling from the sky. When the Bnei Yisroel started to see things growing from the ground it was a renewal of their emunah they realized, that Hashem had it all planned out and really was taking care of them. Today the parsha of manna can be said during davening because it is a segulah for parnosah just like in the end the manna forced us to acknowledge that Hashem would provide us with what we need. From here we can see everyone must put in their measure of Hishtadluth (effort) and so to does Hashem help us with our needs. By saying the parsha of manna we accept that our parnosah comes from Hashem and that he is the one who will provide us with everything we need.

Parshat HaMann is often found in the Siddur after the morning prayers. It is called "The Chapter Of Manna" when Hashem first gave manna to Kal Yisroel in Parsha Beshalach (Divrei Beit Hillel - Weekly Parsha written by students at the University of Pennsylvania.).

The chapter of the 'mann' (manna) has traditionally been referred to as the chapter of livelihood. The underlying concept of trust in G-d is the motif of this chapter. One should reflect upon every aspect of our daily bread and realize its true source. If one is acutely aware of G-d's providence, he never engages in any type of questionable or inappropriate endeavor in his quest for livelihood. One who resorts to cheating, trickery, dishonesty and fraud, even though he may be maintaining all outside appearances of being a devout Jew, in fact is not. (adapted from Peninim on the Torah).

You can look this up for yourself in the Siddur or the Chumash. Parshas Ha Mann is Exodus 16:4-36.

There is a special tradirion to say (read) it on Tuesday Parshas Beshalach.

For those interested in the custom of leaving bread for birds Erev Shabbos Beshallach, two reasons are cited:

1. In the desert, there were those who wanted to prove Moshe a liar. So, when Moshe had told the Jews to collect a double portion of manna on Erev Shabbos, because they wouldn't find manna in the desert on Shabbos itself, they left some over to give the impression that it had indeed fallen Shabbos. However, the birds beat them to it, and the next day, on Shabbos, the manna wasn't anywhere to be found, as Moshe had warned them.

2. The birds daily chirping is like shira (song) to G-d, praising Him, so we recall this in the parshah that our Shira occurs in as well.

So, don't only put out the bread for the birds, but sing praises of G-d while you do it.

Have a great Shabbos, and don't forget to feed the birds this week (before Shabbos, of course) -- it's a tradition.

Pinchas Winston
Torah.org

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