Happy Birthday Birkat Hamazon

The Torah (Exodus 16:1) reports that the Children of Israel arrived at the Wilderness of Sin on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Iyar, approximately one month after the exodus from Egypt. The Torah relates (Exodus 16:2-4) that the Children of Israel began to complain to Moses and Aaron about the “wonderful” foods they ate in Egypt and their current lack of culinary choices. God tells Moses to inform the nation that “manna” would soon begin falling to feed the nation.

The Medieval Biblical commentator Rashi asks: Why was this particular date worthy of mention in the text? The Torah rarely mentions actual dates. Rashi explains, that on this day, the 15th of Iyar, the Children of Israel completed consuming the entire supply of matzah and food that they brought with them from Egypt. Rashi notes that on the following day, the 16th of Iyar, a Sunday, the manna began falling.

The day that the manna was introduced to the people is another significant anniversary, as the Talmudic passage below indicates: “Rabbi Nachman stated that when the manna began falling, Moses established the first blessing of the Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals), ‘He who sustains the world.'”

When the Children of Israel entered the land of Israel, Joshua established the second blessing of Birkat Hamazon, “the blessing of the Land.” King David and King Solomon established the third blessing, “He who builds Jerusalem.” King David composed the words, “Be merciful, God, our Lord, upon Israel Your nation, and upon Jerusalem, Your city.” King Solomon added, “Upon the great and holy Temple…” The fourth blessing, “He who benefits and causes benefit“ was established by the Sanhedrin (High Court) in Yavneh, after the dead from Betar were finally [permitted to be] buried (Berachot 48b).

Imagine the glee of the Children of Israel when they literally received “manna from heaven” just as their food supply ran out. Who better than our greatest prophet, Moses, could compose the opening lines of Birkat Hamazon?!

Today is the 16th of Iyar.

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