Parashat HaMan — The Passage of the Manna

Parashat HaMan
About this prayer

Parashat HaMan is a passage from Exodus (16:4–36) describing the miraculous manna God rained down upon the Israelites in the wilderness. Jewish tradition holds that reciting it daily brings blessing for one's livelihood — a practice attributed to the sages of the Talmud and championed by the Hasidic master Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov. It is preceded and followed by short prayers of petition. Whoever you are and wherever you come from, you are welcome to read, reflect on, and pray these words.

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Parashat HaMan — A Segulah (Spiritual Practice) for Livelihood

 

May it be Your will, Adonai our God and God of our forefathers,

that You provide livelihood for all Your people, the house of Israel,

and my livelihood and the livelihood of the members of my household among them.

With ease and not with anguish,

with honor and not with shame,

with what is permitted and not with what is forbidden,

so that we may be able to serve You and study Your Torah,

just as You fed our forefathers with manna in the wilderness, in a desolate and arid land.

 

Adonai said to Moses:

I am about to rain bread for you from the heavens,

and the people shall go out and gather each day's portion on its day,

so that I may test them — will they walk in My Torah or not?

 

Adonai said to Moses:

I am about to rain bread for you from the heavens,

and the people shall go out and gather each day's portion on its day,

so that I may test them — will they walk in My Torah or not?

 

Adonai said to Moses:

Behold, I will rain down bread for you from the heavens,

and the people shall go out and gather a word's portion day by day,

that I may test them whether they will walk in My teaching or not.

 

And it shall be that on the sixth day, they shall prepare what they bring in,

and it shall be double what they gather on ordinary days.

 

And it shall be that on the sixth day, they shall prepare what they bring in,

and it shall be double what they gather on ordinary days.

 

And it shall be on the sixth day they shall prepare what they will bring,

and it shall be twice as much — two omers for each person — over what they gather day by day.

 

Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel:

In the evening you shall know that it is Adonai who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

 

Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel:

In the evening you shall know that it is Adonai who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

 

Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel:

In the evening you shall know that it is Adonai who brought you out from the land of Egypt.

 

In the morning you shall see the glory of Adonai,

for He has heard your grumblings against Adonai —

and who are we, that you should grumble against us?

 

In the morning you shall see the glory of Adonai,

for He has heard your grumblings against Adonai —

and who are we, that you should grumble against us?

 

In the morning you shall behold the glory of Adonai,

when He hears your complaints before Adonai —

and who are we, for you have complained against us?

 

Moses said: When Adonai gives you meat to eat in the evening

and bread in the morning to satisfy you,

when Adonai hears your grumblings which you murmur against Him —

who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against Adonai.

 

Moses said: When Adonai gives you meat to eat in the evening

and bread in the morning to satisfy you,

when Adonai hears your grumblings which you murmur against Him —

who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against Adonai.

 

Moses said: When Adonai gives you meat to eat in the evening

and bread in the morning to satisfy you,

because Adonai hears your complaints with which you complain before Him —

we are nothing; your complaints are not against us but against the word of Adonai.

 

Moses said to Aaron:

Tell the whole community of the children of Israel:

Draw near before Adonai, for He has heard your grumblings.

 

Moses said to Aaron:

Tell the whole community of the children of Israel:

Draw near before Adonai, for He has heard your grumblings.

 

Moses said to Aaron:

Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel:

Draw near before Adonai, for He has heard your complaints.

 

And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole community of the children of Israel,

they turned toward the wilderness,

and behold, the glory of Adonai appeared in the cloud.

 

And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole community of the children of Israel,

they turned toward the wilderness,

and behold, the glory of Adonai appeared in the cloud.

 

And it was, when Aaron spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel,

they turned toward the wilderness,

and behold, the glory of Adonai was revealed in the cloud.

 

Adonai spoke to Moses, saying.

 

Adonai spoke to Moses, saying.

 

Adonai spoke to Moses, saying.

 

I have heard the grumblings of the children of Israel.

Speak to them, saying:

In the evening you shall eat meat,

and in the morning you shall be satisfied with bread,

and you shall know that I am Adonai your God.

 

I have heard the grumblings of the children of Israel.

Speak to them, saying:

In the evening you shall eat meat,

and in the morning you shall be satisfied with bread,

and you shall know that I am Adonai your God.

 

I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel.

Speak to them, saying:

In the evening you shall eat meat,

and in the morning you shall be satisfied with bread,

and you shall know that I am Adonai your God.

 

In the evening the quail came up and covered the camp,

and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

 

In the evening the quail came up and covered the camp,

and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

 

And it was in the evening, the quail came up and covered the camp,

and in the morning the dew descended all around the camp.

 

The layer of dew lifted,

and there on the surface of the wilderness was something fine, flaky, and thin,

fine as frost on the ground.

 

The layer of dew lifted,

and there on the surface of the wilderness was something fine, flaky, and thin,

fine as frost on the ground.

 

The layer of dew rose,

and there on the face of the wilderness something very fine, like peeling scales,

very fine like chalk, like ice upon the ground.

 

The children of Israel saw it and said to one another:

What is it? — for they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them:

This is the bread that Adonai has given you to eat.

 

The children of Israel saw it and said to one another:

What is it? — for they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them:

This is the bread that Adonai has given you to eat.

 

The children of Israel saw and said, each to his brother:

What is this? — for they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them:

This is the bread that Adonai has given you to eat.

 

This is the word that Adonai has commanded:

Gather of it, each according to what he can eat —

an omer per head, according to the number of your persons;

each man, for those in his tent, shall you take.

 

This is the word that Adonai has commanded:

Gather of it, each according to what he can eat —

an omer per head, according to the number of your persons;

each man, for those in his tent, shall you take.

 

This is the word that Adonai commanded:

Gather from it, each according to what he eats —

an omer per head, by the count of your persons;

each man for those in his dwelling shall you take.

 

The children of Israel did so,

and they gathered, some more and some less.

 

The children of Israel did so,

and they gathered, some more and some less.

 

The children of Israel did so,

and they gathered — he who gathered much and he who gathered little.

 

When they measured by the omer, the one who gathered more had no excess,

and the one who gathered less had no lack —

each gathered according to what he could eat.

 

When they measured by the omer, the one who gathered more had no excess,

and the one who gathered less had no lack —

each gathered according to what he could eat.

 

When they measured by the omer, there was no surplus for the one who gathered much,

nor any lack for the one who gathered little —

each gathered according to what he could eat.

 

Moses said to them:

Let no one leave any of it until morning.

 

Moses said to them:

Let no one leave any of it until morning.

 

Moses said to them:

No one shall leave any of it until morning.

 

But they did not listen to Moses;

some men left part of it until morning,

and it became infested with worms and putrid,

and Moses was angry with them.

 

But they did not listen to Moses;

some men left part of it until morning,

and it became infested with worms and putrid,

and Moses was angry with them.

 

But they did not heed Moses;

some men left part of it until morning,

and it swarmed with vermin and rotted,

and Moses was angry with them.

 

They gathered it morning by morning, each according to what he could eat,

and when the sun grew hot, it melted.

 

They gathered it morning by morning, each according to what he could eat,

and when the sun grew hot, it melted.

 

They gathered it morning by morning, each according to what he could eat;

what was left of it on the surface of the field, when the sun shone upon it, dissolved.

 

On the sixth day they gathered a double portion of bread,

two omers for each person,

and all the leaders of the community came and told Moses.

 

On the sixth day they gathered a double portion of bread,

two omers for each person,

and all the leaders of the community came and told Moses.

 

On the sixth day they gathered double bread,

two omers for one person,

and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported to Moses.

 

He said to them:

This is what Adonai has spoken:

Tomorrow is a Shabbat rest, a holy Shabbat to Adonai;

bake what you will bake,

and boil what you will boil,

and all that remains, set aside for yourselves to keep until morning.

 

He said to them:

This is what Adonai has spoken:

Tomorrow is a Shabbat rest, a holy Shabbat to Adonai;

bake what you will bake,

and boil what you will boil,

and all that remains, set aside for yourselves to keep until morning.

 

He said to them:

This is what Adonai has spoken:

Tomorrow is a Shabbat, a holy Shabbat before Adonai;

bake what you are about to bake,

and boil what you are about to boil,

and all the remainder, store away until morning.

 

They set it aside until morning as Moses commanded,

and it did not putrefy, nor were there worms in it.

 

They set it aside until morning as Moses commanded,

and it did not putrefy, nor were there worms in it.

 

They stored it until morning as Moses commanded,

and it did not rot and there was no vermin in it.

 

Moses said:

Eat it today, for today is a Shabbat to Adonai;

today you will not find it in the field.

 

Moses said:

Eat it today, for today is a Shabbat to Adonai;

today you will not find it in the field.

 

Moses said:

Eat it today, for today is a Shabbat before Adonai;

today you will not find it in the field.

 

For six days you shall gather it,

but on the seventh day, Shabbat, there will be none.

 

For six days you shall gather it,

but on the seventh day, Shabbat, there will be none.

 

For six days you shall gather it,

but on the seventh day, Shabbat, there will be none of it.

 

On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found nothing.

 

On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found nothing.

 

On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found nothing.

 

Adonai said to Moses:

How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My Torah?

 

Adonai said to Moses:

How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My Torah?

 

Adonai said to Moses:

How long will you refuse to observe My commandments and My teaching?

 

See that Adonai has given you the Shabbat;

therefore on the sixth day He gives you bread for two days.

Remain, each of you, in his place;

let no one leave his place on the seventh day.

 

See that Adonai has given you the Shabbat;

therefore on the sixth day He gives you bread for two days.

Remain, each of you, in his place;

let no one leave his place on the seventh day.

 

See that Adonai has given you the Shabbat;

therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days.

Remain, each in his place;

no one shall leave his place on the seventh day.

 

The people rested on the seventh day.

 

The people rested on the seventh day.

 

The people rested on the seventh day.

 

The house of Israel called its name manna,

and it was like coriander seed, white,

and its taste was like a wafer made with honey.

 

The house of Israel called its name manna,

and it was like coriander seed, white,

and its taste was like a wafer made with honey.

 

The house of Israel called its name manna,

and it was like white coriander seed,

and its taste was like a cake of honey.

 

Moses said:

This is the word that Adonai has commanded:

Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations,

so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness

when I brought you out from the land of Egypt.

 

Moses said:

This is the word that Adonai has commanded:

Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations,

so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness

when I brought you out from the land of Egypt.

 

Moses said:

This is the word that Adonai commanded:

Fill an omer of it for safekeeping for your generations,

so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness

when I brought you out from the land of Egypt.

 

Moses said to Aaron:

Take one jar

and put into it a full omer of manna,

and set it before Adonai to be kept for your generations.

 

Moses said to Aaron:

Take one jar

and put into it a full omer of manna,

and set it before Adonai to be kept for your generations.

 

Moses said to Aaron:

Take one flask

and place there a full omer of manna,

and store it before Adonai for safekeeping for your generations.

 

Just as Adonai commanded Moses,

Aaron set it before the Testimony for safekeeping.

 

Just as Adonai commanded Moses,

Aaron set it before the Testimony for safekeeping.

 

As Adonai commanded Moses,

Aaron stored it before the Ark of Testimony for safekeeping.

 

The children of Israel ate the manna for forty years,

until they came to an inhabited land;

the manna they ate until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

 

The children of Israel ate the manna for forty years,

until they came to an inhabited land;

the manna they ate until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

 

The children of Israel ate the manna for forty years,

until they arrived at the settled land;

the manna they ate until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

 

And the omer is a tenth of an ephah.

 

And the omer is a tenth of an ephah.

 

And the omer is one-tenth of three se'ah.

 

Petition recited after Parashat HaMan

 

You alone are Adonai.

You made the heavens and the highest heavens,

the earth and all that is upon it,

the seas and all that is in them,

and You give life to them all.

You are the One who has always performed great miracles and wonders with our forefathers —

even in the wilderness You rained down bread from the heavens for them,

from the flinty rock You brought forth water for them,

and You gave them all their needs;

their garments did not wear out from upon them.

So too, in Your great mercy and Your immense loving-kindness,

nourish us and provide for us and sustain us,

and supply us all our needs and the many needs of Your people, the house of Israel,

in fullness and with ease, without great burden or toil,

from Your clean hand,

and not from the hand of flesh and blood.

 

May it be Your will, Adonai my God and God of my fathers,

that You prepare for me and the members of my household all that we lack,

and provide us all our needs —

for every day of our lives, enough for our needs;

for every hour of our hours, enough for our sustenance;

for every limb of our bodies, enough to keep us alive —

from Your good and open hand,

and not in measure of our meager deeds, our few acts of kindness, or our sparse good works.

May my sustenance and the sustenance of the members of my household, my children, and their children's children

be entrusted to Your hand, and not to the hand of flesh and blood.

Common Questions

A segulah is a traditional practice believed to draw down divine blessing, often without a fully rational explanation — more like a spiritual key than a formula. The sages taught that one who recites Parashat HaMan every day will not lack for sustenance. Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov further taught that reciting it twice in the original Hebrew and once in the Aramaic translation (known as 'shnayim mikra ve-echad targum') on the Tuesday of the week when the Torah portion Beshalach is read is a particularly powerful segulah for livelihood.