(for Parshat B'Shalach)
Many who have lived through hunger cannot stop hoarding. They survived by clutching at literal crumbs and now though they are safe they cannot let go. They gather napkins from restaurants, packets of sugar or salt, whatever they can get. They have not lost their fright.
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In the Desert God sends manna, the special bread. Six days a week it comes and the people go in the open to gather it. And the manna will go bad if they store it: they live on just that day’s bread.
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These are people to whom the Egyptians said: get yourselves straw wherever you can find it. They needed the straw for bricks for their horrible slave-work. And so they spread out across all Egypt to find straw. And they learned the need to scavenge. They learned the perils of not finding. They learned the need to store up.
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Now God tells them: I am the One Who gives you the things you gather. I give manna each day. You do not need to rely on yourself to ensure your bread each day. You can rely on Me.
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If they learn this, they can move past trauma.
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Shabbat Shalom, Abe
Please pray for the premature infants Kalev Ezra and Baer Yakov bnei Emunah. Please continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah and for Rachel Tovah bat Yehudit Esther.