With regard to the Monn, it is written “bread” (Exodus 16:4), and it is written “oil” (Numbers 11:8), and it is written “honey” (Exodus 16:31). How can we reconcile these verses? Rabbi Yosi, son of Rabbi Chanina, said: For the youth it was like bread, for the elderly it was like oil, and for the children it was like honey. Each received what was appropriate. (Yoma 75b)

The Jewish people are known as “The People of the Book”, as they spend an enormous amount of time and effort learning about their religion. The fact that the lay people in klal Yisroel are commanded to spend a disproportionate time learning the laws of their religion, is unique to Judaism. In most other religions, as long as one does not transgress the laws one is doing OK. There is no commandment to study the laws, just not to transgress them. We, on the other hand, consider learning about all the laws of Judaism a central aspect of our religion.  In addition, the mitzvah of Talmud Torah is even equivalent to all other mitzvos combined!

After internalizing the importance of leaning Torah, one must determine what is it that he should learn. Whether one is the greatest of scholars or the simplest school child the material one learns may be the same. The Gadol hador and the young boy in first grade both must learn Bereishis. The only difference is the depth of ones’ learning differs in order that everyone can learn the whole Torah, each at their own level. This makes our torah universal and personal at the same time. To quote a well-known Mashgiach, “Torah is the only thing in the world that both a 5-year-old and a 90-year-old can learn and enjoy.”

This may be understood better, based on an explanation given by Rav Meir Shapiro (1887-1933) for the saying,”Lo nitna ha torah ela l’ochlei hamon–The Torah was given specifically to the generation that ate monn.” What was unique about the monn? It tasted to each individual exactly as he liked it. In other words, it was personally tailored to his taste at that particular time.

This is similar to the Torah, which can be learned by each individual on his specific level in that exact moment. We all ate the same monn, but it tasted different to each person, pleasing each person’s unique palate. So too, the Torah that we learn may be the exact same verse, but it could have a different meaning to every individual.

This week as we learn about the monn, we should think about the Torah as well, understanding that the Torah was made just for me! It can taste just right for what I need at this time. We should keep in mind that there is a piece of Torah that is appropriate for us at every given specific moment. Our job is to find it.