Menachem Bluming Muses: We Thrive on Comparisons

The Torah, in the portion of Behaalotechah, speaks of the Jewish People's complaint about the manna in chapter 11 verse 6. 

As part of their complaint they said that “there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes”. So why is that a complaint? So the only food is manna, why does that not make it a delectable cuisine?

How do you know if something is too expensive or not? You compare it. You compare prices, you compare schools that your children get into. You compare summer vacations. Through comparison we know if we are doing well, if not we are never sure..

The Jews complained that they did not feel good about their cuisine because there was nothing else to compare it to, to know if it is really good.

Social media has exacerbated that ability and need to compare to what others have rather than finding joy in the gifts that we are given and that often leaves us complaining that whatever we have is not enough.

Mendel (Menachem) Bluming

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