Discussion: Family Torah observance leads to a life rich in symbols. Often, we carry out these symbols assuming that our family understands them. It is true that some symbols do not require explanation. For example, everyone understands, without explanation, the symbol of the handshake or the hug. Other religious symbols can benefit from inspired explanation to help us absorb their full import. Our children might be aware, technically, of the "right" explanation of a symbol, without really absorbing its significance and deeper meaning. Our discussion of familiar symbols can serve to turn the "spit back" kind of performance that our children are used to giving on multiple-choice exams, into a thoughtful, inspired integration of the idea behind the symbol.

The use of two halot on Shabbat is a powerful symbol that can deepen our understanding about the source of our sustenance.

After the splitting of Yam Suf, our perasha this week describes the beginning of Israel’s sojourn through the wilderness. After God and Moshe solve the problem of Israel’s lack of water, Israel complained about the lack of food.

Hashem solved the problem in a miraculous way:

God gave a double-portion of mahn on the sixth day to last for the sixth and seventh days. We use two loaves of bread on the Shabbat table to symbolize the double-portion.

Method: Ask your children: Why do we use two loaves of bread on Shabbat? (The children will either a) give the "textbook" answer "to remember the mahn." Or b) they will not know the reason.)

a) If the children give the textbook answer, ask them: What does that mean? Why is it important to remember the mahn? (Give them time to think of answers and time to give full, elaborate answers (remember last week’s Table Talks where we spoke about "wait time"!)

b) If the children do not know the answer tell them the story of the mahn with elaboration, and tell them that our rabbis told us to put two loaves of bread on Shabbat just like the mahn. (See the texts above)

Ask: Is our bread mahn? (No) What is the difference? (Our bread is bought in the store with money that we earned, the mahn came from the sky-- we did not have to pay for it.)

Why did our very smart Rabbis want us to think of our bread like mahn? (Because in some ways our bread is like mahn.)

In what way is our bread like mahn? (In the sense that God caused it to rain, allowing the wheat to grow. He gave us the capacity to work and to make money so that we can buy the things we need, like food. )

We use two loaves to remind us that on the sixth day God gave us a double-portion so that on the seventh day we should rest. Likewise, our weekday work is blessed so that we have enough food for Shabbat without having to work on Shabbat as well.

When we see the two loaves of bread on our table we should consider that the food that we have is just like the mahn, coming to us through several miracles, even thought they are less apparent. God provides our food, just as he did in the time of the wilderness sojourn. We should never take our ability to provide for our families, or the simple fact of having food to eat, for granted. It is a gift from Hashem as if it fell from the sky.

**Note that one of the reasons given for covering the hhalot on top with the hhalah cover and on bottom with the tablecloth is to remind us of the mahn as well, that fell on a layer of dew and was covered with a layer of dew. (Pesahhim 100b, Tosafot "she`en…", Tur Orahh Hhayiim 271)

We should be aware that even though we have "unpacked" the symbol, it still has many other meanings and messages. Symbols affect us on a different plane than ideas. Symbols are experienced rather than merely thought about or discussed. Even though we "know" what the symbol means, it is still important to make the symbol a part of our lives.