Leket and the multiple miracles within manna
The aphorism, “amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics,” is attributed to US Major General Omar Bradley, first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in recognition of his exceptional skill in organizing and leading large groups of soldiers throughout his distinguished career.
I confess that during past studies of this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, I was distracted by its more dramatic miracles — pillars of cloud and fire that guide the Israelites through the wilderness and the splitting of the sea that saves them from the pursuing Egyptian army — and I overlooked the miracle of manna, despite the extensive attention it receives in the text.
However, this year, as a proud member of the new Rabbinic Leadership Circle at Leket, I read with fresh interest about manna because God commands the Israelites to gather — “liktu” — their daily portion of manna, from the same Hebrew root as “Leket.”
I was struck by the logistical complexity involved in making sure the Israelites have enough to eat, even when their sustenance literally falls from the sky. Initially, a period of public education is necessary to instruct the people how to identify and prepare manna, avoid waste, and accommodate its brief and irregular shelf-life. Each Israelite must gather their portion daily (except on Shabbat) before it melts in the sun, prepare it by baking or boiling, and consume it promptly before it spoils, except for in specific circumstances when it can be stored for longer periods (overnight for Shabbat and, in one special case, in a jar for posterity).
The medieval biblical commentator Ibn Ezra wrote, “This miracle [of manna] is the greatest of all the miracles that were done through Moses because there were multiple miracles within manna, and they lasted for 40 years, unlike the other miracles.” These “multiple miracles within manna,” the logistics of its collection, storage and distribution, enabled every Israelite to access as much sustenance as they needed, while preventing waste. Manna’s very existence was miraculous, of course, but even more miraculous were the systems that allowed it to remain fresh, delicious, nutritious, and accessible wherever and whenever it was needed, sustaining the community for a generation.
Last year, Leket successfully rescued and delivered 74.8 million pounds of food during a time of war-related disruptions, increased costs, and labor shortages. Leket’s 2025 Annual Report highlights the logistical efficiency that made this amazing accomplishment possible and outlines future plans that will allow for even greater food rescue and distribution — improved technology to support real-time reporting of food surpluses, vacuum packed and shelf stable meals to extend storage, and expanded public education campaigns focused on nutrition and food waste reduction.
Across the span of centuries, Leket’s 2025 Annual Report echoes the insights of both Ibn Ezra and Major General Omar Bradley about the centrality of logistical efficiency: “The challenge is not the existence of surplus food but capturing it.” That challenge is so aptly met by the professionals of Leket, and I am so proud to support this vital mission.
