Each according to what he needs
Exodus 16:16
Messages produce multiple meanings. Once transmitted, the communicator loses control. It’s the audience that captures, formulates and re-shapes the message. Pandora’s microphone anyone? In essence, one never just communicates a point. Rather, they communicate far more; they ignite a multitude of impressions, concepts or viewpoints.
The Torah Portion Beshalach‘s Manna instructions illustrate this phenomena. Simple instructions on a food product’s distribution can be interpreted into establishing divergent economic philosophies.
Beshalach
While the Torah Portion drama includes the Red Sea splitting and the Amalek conflict, this Post examines another profound matter. In this vacuum of existential uncertainty and prior the Mt. Sinai cementation of the nation, there was Divine messaging concerning- of all things- food; Manna from heaven.
Before Doordash, Uber-Eats or any food delivery system, there was the Almighty. The Torah Portion Beshalach reports on the first batch of the divinely delivered Manna.
The Manna Message
Manna was to be the Children of Israel’s sustenance during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Coriander seed-like in appearance, it tasted like a wafer of honey. Exodus 16:31. The food product was to be daily gathered. There was a Sabbath exception, however.
Manna came with instructions. The Children of Israel were told that the consumption would be: “each according to what he eats.” Exodus 16:16. As part of the instruction, a person from each tent did the collection. Exodus 16:16.
It appears that each tent- family (or group)- was to have a member collect the Manna on their behalf. Outside of the tent as a unit, no others individuals were tasked to collect for others.
After the instructions, Beshalach tells that “each had collected according to what he eats.” Exodus 16:18.
Message and Meanings
A multitude of messages and interpretations arise from the Manna rules. In modern terms, the instructions could be interpreted in terms of socialism, survivalist or in a community building concept.
Socialism
Social ownership of the means of production to meet human needs is a socialist tenet. Equality of outcome is one as well. Certainly, the equal distribution and equal result can lead someone to interpret this as the Manna message.
The interpretation, however, is questionable. The item’s production was not human; the item consumed was not collectively generated. Further, each tent apparently bared responsibility for collecting the Manna for their fellow tent dwellers.
Survivalist
The survivalist message bares some validity as well. Making sure that everyone shares can be a survival value. Likewise, establishing an order to the process makes sense.
The limited collection instruction, however, contra-indicated for survivalists. Also, the Sabbath collection ban would likely be viewed as problematic.
Community Building
The community building message is also present. People working together and making sure that all received their portion is a team effort.
Likewise, the prohibition of unequal amount of collection prevented potential discord. Also, the community building is supported by everyone being afforded a day of rest.
Consideration Of Additional Torah’s Messaging
The Manna messaging was not in isolation. Before and after the Manna laws, there were other instructions which could also be used to re-shape viewpoints. Thus, the Passover meal and the Ten Commandments are important messages with respect to material distribution.
In the Torah Portion prior, Bo, the Passover meal also included collective instructions. In Bo, there was the concern over everyone in the neighborhood getting their portion of lamb. Neighbors were to coordinate with their neighbors. Exodus 12:3. [Note: This bares some similarity to the Manna instruction. With the Manna, there was instruction to provide for the individuals within one’s tent. Who exactly occupied a tent? Could it be extended family, friends or a servant?]
With this instruction, and taking into account the Manna collection, the viewpoint of community participation was important. Everyone was to be included. All people were to function with an understanding that they bared some obligations to their neighbor and their well-being. The Exodus’ remembrance was to be a shared value.
After the Manna instructions, there is message of the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments addresses distribution matters. The Tenth Commandment indicates “[y]ou shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his servant or his maid or his ox or his ass or anything that your neighbor has.” Exodus 20:17.
This message, properly received, is that there is imbalance within the material world. Some people will have more and others less. Some people will have items more attractive than others. In part, an individual’s wealth acquisition is not to create a jealousy among neighbors.
This Decalogue’s emotional prohibition is meant to foster a sense of community. While there are aspect of life upon which community participation is expected and encouraged, there is a line. People’s relationships and property rights, to a great extent, are to be respected.
Conclusion
Messaging possesses a problematic Pandora Box-like quality. From the Torah’s publication to present day, the Penateuch’s messaging has created a multitude of views.
As discussed, message recipients are free to pick and choose viewpoints. These viewpoints don’t require exactitude concerning the interpretation.
The divergent nature of the opinions, given the Portion Beshalach, reveals how various political thought can emerge from particular messaging.
Thus, messages, in the hands of the recipients, can lead into many directions.
The Torah’s message tries to strike a balance. While there is the people as a community, there are individuals who both own property and have established relationships.
Thus, we are challenged to gain a better understanding of the Torah’s message. The message being that Judaism strikes a balancing act between capitalistic and socialistic thought. Civilization, early on, recognized carrying for the needy, but it also acknowledge that individual property must be protected.
Be well!!
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