“And when they did measure it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; each man gathered according to his eating.” (Shemos 16:18)

There are many people who said Parshas Hamann this past Tuesday, as a way to “bring in more parnasa”. Is this considered a correct form of hishtadlus, a segulah? Or is it just part of reading shnayim mikra for the week?

The Gemara in Yoma 75b quotes the verse (Psalms 78:25) that says “לחם אבירים אכל איש” (Man ate the bread of angels) and brings two opinions as to what this verse is referring. One opinion says that this verse is telling us that the mann that they ate in the desert was the food of angels. The gemora then asks, “Do angels eat? They are energized by the ‘זיו השכינה‘ (shine of the Divine Presence)”! Therefore, the other opinion says that the mann was absorbed into the people’s limbs (אברים) in the desert. Rav Gedalia Shorr explains that in the core issue there is no argument. Both agree that the angels gather energy from the Divine Presence. It is just a question of how physical the energy was. (The amount of physicality can be compared to the solidness of water, which is solid below 32℉ (273°K), gas above 212℉ (373°K), and liquid in between. Yet at all three temperatures, it is still H20).

It seems to me that the person’s spiritual level determines how much of the food’s benefits he will actually absorb. The pharmacy sells all kinds of supplements that help a person extract more nutrition from the food he is eating. So too, a person whose body is more spiritual can get more physical and spiritual strength than others eating the same food (see Reb Chaim of Volozhin on Avos 3:3).

In recent years, it has become commonplace in the world of segulas in which we live, that instead of saying the brocho of “Bareich aleinu” with full thought in order to be blessed with parnasa, people spend extra time after davening to say the parsha of the mann. Saying the parsha of the mann definitely has within it the ability to connect someone with Hashem and bring about parnasa. But there is more to it than that.

Many times I am asked, “How much hishtadlus for parnasa am I obligated to make?” I would like to draw a lesson from the way the mann fell. While there are exceptions, in general, people who sin are more disconnected from Hashem, and those who sin less, are more connected to Hashem. When we look at where the mann fell, those who had a greater connection to Hashem didn’t have to go so far to collect their portion. Whereas those who were less connected had to travel a greater distance to achieve the same amount of parnasa. In other words, one’s level of emuna and bitachon, and his relationship with Hashem, determine if one needs 6, 8 or 10 hours a day in order to obtain the same amount of financial stability.

There is a story told about a man who was in need of cash, and while walking with his friend, he commented, “If Hashem wanted me to have money, He would send it to me.” To which his friend countered, “Why don’t you just buy a lottery ticket?” As they continued walking, they happened to see a lottery ticket on the pavement. The friend said, “Here is a lottery ticket – pick it up!” To that the man said, “if Hashem wanted to give me parnasa, he would put the ticket directly in my hand!” Is he right?

The answer depends on who you are. I believe the level of most people demands that when opportunity comes their way, they must take an active role and responsibility. One can obtain, according to many, the level of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and have miracles happen for him. However, Rabbi Shimon himself wasn’t moved by a miracle. If a miracle would move you, you are not at that level yet. Therefore, if by saying Parshas Hamann one ingrains the lessons of bitachon in oneself, then it can indeed bring the blessings that one is davening for.