Parshat Beshalach: How to Teach
by Rabbi Lobel

During their 40 years In the Wilderness, the Jewish people ate manna from heaven. The manna would magically appear six days of the week and Moses instructed the people to only take enough for that day; any manna remaining on the next day would spoil and become infested with worms. (Exodus 16: 19 – 23) Friday was the exception since the Jews needed to gather manna for Shabbos as well. As Moses taught, “for six days you shall gather the manna, on the seventh day there would be none.” (Exodus 16:2)

When a few of the Israelites went out to collect manna on Shabbos, G-d said, “Until when will you refuse to adhere to my commandments and teachings.” (Exodus 16:27)

According to the Sforono, G-d included Moses in his condemnation. Let’s read that sentence again, specifically inserting Moses. “Until when will you [Moses] refuse to adhere to my commandments and teachings.”

Moses wasn’t adhering to G-d’s commandments and teachings? Didn’t he teach the people to only gather for six days?

Yes, but not enough.

Although the rule, “for six days you shall gather manna,” appears simple enough, the implications for Shabbos are not. What was the violation of gathering manna on Shabbos? The Sforno says there were three possible scenarios – A person could potentially violated the Shabbos prohibitions of harvesting, transporting, or both. (See Note)

Another problem is the manna never appeared on Shabbos so the entire situation is completely theoretical. How could there be a prohibition against doing something that’s impossible? (G-d’s condemnation was based upon the individuals attempting to gather manna on the Shabbos, not the actual gathering, which never happened.)

G-d blamed those who went to collect Manna on Shobbos because they should have known better. G-d equally blamed Moses for not being explicit enough, resulting in the Israelites’ rebellion against his word.

Had Moshe Rabbeinu, “Moses, our teacher,” taught the Isrealites all the details, intricacies, and beauties of the prohibition against gathering manna on Shabbos, it’s possible nobody would have sinned.

The nature of a student is to find avenues to progress his own agenda. However, respect is gained only when there are no available excuses for the student to falter. Since Moses failed, in this instance, to do all a teacher needs to do, he must share the blame for his students’ transgressions.

{Note: The first violation would have been removing a product from the place where it receives nutrients. The Manna received its sustenance from the ground until it was gathered. This is akin to detaching a plant from the ground; the violation of “Harvesting”. The second violation would have been “transferring an object from one domain to another domain.” The Jewish people would have needed to bring the Manna from the outside into their houses or from one area of the public domain to another area of the public domain. This is known as “Transporting”.}