Manna Through the Clouds

Succot Reflections 5778:

The Zohar emphasizes what it means that the clouds of glory came as a result of the merit of Aaron. It explores many of its implications. Somehow, this got me thinking about the clouds of glory’s interaction with the manna. In the desert, the 12 tribes were covered by the clouds of glory. But, those outside the camp, like the mixed multitude, weren’t. Their nature was that they were rabble rousers and so, they were antithetical to what Aaron stood for, loving peace and pursuing peace. Therefore, they weren’t covered by the clouds, which were brought about in Aaron’s merit.  However, since Moses prayed for them to be included in the exodus, they still received the manna which was brought in Moses’ merit.

When the manna reached the 12 tribes, it had to pass these clouds of glory and were no doubt affected by them. The clouds, likely, processed the manna further – improving the manna for consumption. However, when the manna reached the surrounding encampment, outside the clouds, it did not get that processing. It just dropped down as it was. This may reconcile two accounts of the manna. One account is that it tasted like anything anyone wanted. Another account is that it was “unsatisfying bread” and was like coriander seed, in need of further processing. It’s possible that for those who received their manna through the clouds, it tasted like anything that they wanted and was perfectly satisfying. For those who received the manna beyond the reach of the clouds, it was like coriander seed, required preparation and had a fixed taste; probably, good, but fixed – one that someone can get bored of.

On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we prayed for the manna for the year. Our portion of blessing is a physical expression of the manna. Then on Succot, we eat in a succah, which is a physical expression of the clouds of glory. By doing so, in effect we are asking for our manna to be come through the clouds of glory and be sweetly processed by them; to receive the manna in a way that loves peace, pursues, loves creations and brings them close to Torah.

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