Torah Portions Confirming
God as Shaddai (Enough)
Per Exodus 16,
a manna portion was provided to each Hebrew daily, twice on Friday – as no manna would
provided on Shabbat. Further’more,’ if a Hebrew gathered more than needed (‘for
a rainy day’ just in case in reserve?) – the extra would rot with maggots. (1)
There is Midrash (Rabbinical JEWbonics – to fill in the blanks) that individually
the manna tasted to each Hebrew as desired (i.e. Roast Beef au Jews, Arby’s,
Domino’s, and of course A Whopper™ from Burger King Judaism franchise).
Thus, the manna represents that it is Hashem that provides
– and provides what is required. More than what is required becomes adulterated
– maggot infested of trying to have more than what Hashem provided and is a
test for the Hebrew’s faith that Hashem is ‘enough.’
After avoiding, praying, even getting ready to fight –
splitting the family’s ranks – should Esau attack, Jacob/Israel prevails in
giving a huge gift (tribute/bribe/reparation depending on JEWbonics) to Esau.
Initially Esau demurred accepting stating
‘I have plenty’ to which Jacob as Israel replied ‘I have all.’
All is Shaddai – Shaddai is Enough - in this Torah portion
context.
At the Passover Seder, there are several customs and rituals which are unique i.e:
“matzah (the eating of unleavened bread); maror
(the eating of bitter herbs); chametz
(abstention from eating leaven); b’iur
chametz (removal of leaven from the home); and haggadah (participation in
the seder meal
and telling the story).” There is a 6th
& 7th custom family bickering as
well as the singing of the song Dayenu.
Each lyric of the song
Dayenu begins with the word dayenu. And dayenu – means and invokes ‘it was
enough, it was enough!’ in the context of it was enough that God did – what God
did – what Shaddai provided….
The MOREal of the juxtaposition of these three stories from
Torah : Hashem in providing daily manna, Hashem in destroying storage of the
manna for a rainy day of manna, Hashem as ‘all,’ and Hashem as Dayenu - demonstrates
that Hashem is Shaddai – is ‘God, God Almighty, God All Sufficient, ENOUGH.’
It only took 43
years of practicing, writing, philosophizing about Enough to come to this insight
– which is 3 years beyond what the
Hebrews endured in the desert.
(1)- The two loaves of
Challah on Shabbat is a custom derived from the double portion of manna allowed
for the day before and day of shabbat
