The Ultimate Personal Trainer Mrs. Karen Hochhauser (Karen.hochhauser@gmail.com) Parshat B'Shalach In this week's Parsha, Hashem facilitates a paradigmatic shift in the minds of Bnei Yisrael. Though relieved to be free from the terrible work and torture of the Mitzrim, Bnei Yisrael know only how to serve a human king. They are used to hearing commands and being punished directly if they do not obey. Furthermore, they looked at the Mitzrim as their life source and had grown to rely on them for even basic food and water. In our Parsha, Hashem gently trains Bnei Yisrael to look to Him for what they need instead. While there are many examples of this in the Parsha, let's focus on one: The Man. (For a great shiur by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag on the other examples, go to http://www.tanach.org/shmot/bshal1.htm). The man served a dual purpose. On a basic level, it kept Bnei Yisrael alive in the midbar. But it's true purpose and message was much greater. We all know of the intrinsic relationship people have with food. Any Jewish mother can attest to the primal need to provide a good meal to her family and friends, to help them feel happy, satisfied and loved. Rav Hirsh, in his commentary to the Parsha, explains that this is what Hashem does for Bnei Yisrael with the man. By teaching Bnei Yisrael that they can rely on Him for their daily food, a relationship begins to take shape and grow. Why did Hashem give the man one day at a time? To show Bnei Yisrael, every single morning, that He is there for them. There was no stocked fridge in the midbar. Hashem wanted Bnei Yisrael to look to Him directly for their most basic needs. Why? Rav Hirsch tells us that, "He who has not learnt to trust G-d for the next day, will ultimately be led away from G-d and His law." It is only when people can see the direct connection between their survival and G-d that they can begin to recognize all of the good He does for us. Once that relationship is defined, Bnei Yisrael can move up to the next level- receiving the Torah and keeping the Mitzvot. One of the consequences of living in galut is that we do not merit seeing G-d's Hand in our lives in this direct manner. Our job is to look around at the everyday miracles in our lives and figure out how Hashem is giving us our personal "man." While it is sometimes hard to see, Hashem helps us every single day. When we appreciate that, it makes it easy to approach the Mitzvot with gratitude and excitement.,