One of the most remarkable episodes in the Torah, is the story of Klal Yisroel (in the Midbar) that tells of the time when Klal Yisroel complained to Moshe Rabbeinu after they had been receiving the Man (heavenly bread) for some time.
Klal Yisroel complained and said; “Mi Yachileinu Basar – who will give us meat”…we want meat!…”Bilti Ha’man L’eineinu…all we have is the Man! We don’t want this heavenly bread, we want meat!
Moshe Rabbeinu heard their complaints and he was mispallel to Hashem and said, “Lama Lo Matzasi Chein B’einecha? etc. In a manner of speaking, he asked Hashem to ‘resign’ and Hashem actually accepted his request by assigning and designating 7 elders of the Jewish people (this was the new creation of a Sanhedrin) to help Moshe Rabbeinu! This was the same Moshe Rabbeinu who effectively dealt with the Parshas Ha’egel and who now seemed to be at a loss as to how to deal with this crisis! We also know that this episode was a precursor to the downward spiral of sins perpetrated by the Jewish people later on in the Parshios of the Meraglim, Korach, etc. and up until Pinchas ben Elazar saved the Jewish people by standing up for the honor of Hashem.
This episode is a complete mystery for a number of reasons. First of all, Klal Yisroel had plenty of meat in the Midbar, so they must have been alluding to something deeper! In addition, we know that the Man shared a characteristic with diamonds, in that it would refract every color of the rainbow! The divinely provided Man, had every quality, taste (including meat) and beauty! Why then, was Am Yisroel rejecting the Man and rejecting Moshe Rabbeinu in favor of meat (ie: mundane food)?
The answer can be explained with the following analogy. Suppose you were invited to share a meal with the Holy Chasam Sofer in his house! Wow! What a zechus. Assuredly, the meal would be an experience of Holiness to last you a lifetime! Now suppose the Chasam Sofer invited you to stay over and remain for a few weeks to live with him in his house? There is a good chance you’d say…well, that’s just too much! To eat a meal with the Holy Chasam Sofer is one thing…but afterwards, I wanna go home and kick up my feet and relax etc.! For me to live in complete Holiness with this great man and in his house for two WHOLE WEEKS!…that is simply TOO MUCH!
This is exactly what Am Yisroel was complaining about! They were rejecting the idea of ‘nursing’ straight from Hakadosh Baruch Hu, kaviyachol (through Moshe Rabbeinu), which was manifested by the Man. They were saying, “THIS IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH FOR US”! …”We don’t want to be angels and eat this divine bread anymore. We are afraid of the levels of perfection that is necessary when one has to live with G-d 24/7″! “Sure we wanna be Frum and Shomrei Torah Umitzvos….bu we don’t wanna be angels! Give us some meat!” This behavior was a rejection of Moshe Rabbeinu who was a direct conduit to bring the pure D’var Hashem to Klal Yisroel (“Shechina M’daberes Mitoch Grono”), as well as a rejection of the heavenly food (representing divine assistance) in the form of Man. It is for this reason that Moshe Rabbeinu was mispallel to Hashem. Moshe Rabbeinu understood that Klal Yisroel was rejecting his very job description in favor of a more mundane existence (represented by the cry for ‘meat’ and its deeper message). It was also for this reason that Hashem instructed Moshe to establish the Sanhedrin and in so doing to usher in a new era for Klal Yisroel where they would no longer ‘nurse’ directly from Hashem. This is also why Eldad and Meidad Prophesized that “Moshe Meis, V’Yehoshua Manhig es Yisroel – That Moshe Rabbeinu is ‘dead’ and his student Yehoshua will lead Klal Yisroel”. This Prophecy was a direct result of Klal Yisroels’ rejection of their miraculous existence and sustenance to that point (in favor of a mundane lifestyle) and their rejection of Moshe Rabbeinus’ role in facilitating this miraculous existence.
Suffice to say, this new approach by the Klal Yisroel was a huge mistake. To live a life that is 100% with Hashem, does not mean that one has to ‘give away or lose his/her personality’ and become an ‘angel’. It does not mean that one has to be perfect 100% of the time. Living with Hashem means to actually find your identity in a life lived with Hashem Yisborach!
We make mistakes and we also accomplish great things. We experience happiness and sadness at different times. However, the main thing, is to dedictae your life to sharing these experiences with Hashem Yisborach!
The Rambam writes that at the time (any time) that a person thinks about Hashem Yisborach (just thinking, let alone talking to…), Hashem is literally with him!
<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>
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