Should We Say Parshas Hamon

By Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm for COLlive.com

The Talmud Yerushalmi exalts the merit of reading Parshas Hamon, the Torah reading in Parshas Beshalach about the manna from the sky provided by Hashem for the Jews in the desert.

As mentioned in tractate Brachos, the Yerushalmi says that anyone who says Parshas Hamon is promised and guaranteed that he won’t be lacking in his sustenance.

In Shulchan Aruch (Mahadura Basra 1:9), the Alter Rebbe lists the verses that can be said in addition to Shachris davening, among them Parshas Akeida and Parshas Hamon.

However, the reason the Alter Rebbe gives to recite Parshas Hamon is to strengthen one’s trust in Hashem that He gives the daily food supply that is needed for a person.

In the earlier edition of the Shulchan Aruch (Mahadura Kama 1:10), the Alter Rebbe gives a slightly different reason: It’s purpose is for person to have faith that all his sustenance comes from Hashem, “as it was done with the manna.”

The Rebbe discusses the difference between faith and trust (emuna and bitachon) in Likkutei Sichos volume 26, the second sichah of Parshas Beshalach, but a direct reference to Parshas Hamon is found in a letter.

A person asked the Rebbe whether to recite an additional prayer in the morning, to which the Rebbe answered (Igros Kodesh volume 12, page 18): “I do know what is said in the sefer Mishmeres Shalom (in the name of R’ Pinchos of Koritz) that it is a merit to say Parshas Hamon every day.”

The tzadik R’ Menachem Mendel of Rimanov said that on the Tuesday of the week we read Parshas Beshalach, it is a great merit (segulah) to say Parshas Hamon with Targus Unkelus.

Despite both the Rebbe and the Alter Rebbe mentioning it, it has not become a Chabad custom to recite it and no reason was why not to recite either. Those who do recite begin from the part when the Hashem promises to bring down the manna and not of the Jewish people complaining.

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