We continue discussing the advantages of the Baal Bitachon, who lives every day, day by day, and he doesn’t worry- he has food for today.
An added aspect to this attitude relates to the manna, which we know came down every day. While we don’t get to see our food coming down every day, the Hida, in sefer Avodat Hakodesh tells us nonetheless,
צריך להתפלל על הפרנסה קודם אכילה
Before we eat, we should pray for our food.
Rav Chaim Pilaggi, in his sefer Kaf HaChaim, even goes so far as to say that although we don’t like to speak between the Berachot of Netilat Yadayim and Hamotzi, if a person didn’t yet pray for his food before he eats, then he should do it then.
What is this concept of praying for your food, before you eat, if your food is already there?
The Zohar is brought as a source, and it tells us that there are people that, in the Tehilim, are referred to as:
המיחלים לחסדו
They look to G-d’s kindness.
The Zohar says that these are people who ask Hashem for their parnasa every day.
Practically speaking, we can ask: if you haven’t had your coffee yet this morning, but you see it brewing or you smell it, and you know it’s ready, what are you praying for?
The answer is that just because it’s there, that doesn’t mean it’s for you. You have to ask for it.
This is a very high level- It looks like I have my food, but until I ask Hashem for it, it’s not mine.
The Zohar quotes from Rav Yesa Saba,
לא התקין סעודה בכל יום עד שבקש בקשתו לפני ה׳ למזונות
He did not prepare his meal until he asked G-d for his food.
He said he wouldn’t set up his meal until he got permission from the King. Only then would he eat.
We might wonder- Isn’t that what a beracha is?
There are two levels:
A Beracha is actually thanking G-d. Berachot are necessary, and the Gemarah in Masechet Berachot says that eating before making a beracha is called stealing. It’s like taking food from the host’s refrigerator before he offers. In our religion, we believe that we have to thank G-d for the food.
But now the Zohar takes it further. More than thanking G-d for our food, we have to pray for it- even if it’s sitting there in front of us! We Baalei Bitachon know that just because it’s sitting there, that doesn’t mean it’s ours. The food has to be granted to us by G-d. That’s a very high level. The Hida and Rav Chaim Pilaggi say we should make this a habit.
Before they eat, some people have the custom to say,
פותח את ידיך ומשביע לכל חי רצון
You give it openhandedly and feed every creature to its heart’s content
Others say,
מזמור לדוד ה׳ רואי לא אחסר
A Mizmor of David, Hashem is my Shepard, I lack nothing
These customs are based on the concept that before we eat, even though the food is here, not only do we say thank you, but we ask permission. We realize we are getting our food everyday from G-d.
The Shem M’Shemuel, quoting the Arizal, brings up the famous pasuk:
כי לא על לחם לבדו יחיה אדם
Man does not live on bread alone.
G-d said that, in the Torah. So, what do we live on?
כי על כל מוצא פי ה׳ יחיה
We live on what emanates from the mouth of G-d.
That means when you eat a piece of bread, there is spirituality that comes with it.
It’s not just carbs or protein. It’s the word of G-d, and that is what our souls live on.
He says that when a person prays for his food and realizes G-d is giving it to him, this unleashes the spirituality in the food.
And, the Shem M’Shemuel adds a Hiddush:
Avraham Avinu was known for two things
1- He was a great Baal Emunah and Bitachon, and
2- Hachnasat Orchim- He brought in guests and made them religious.
How did he do that? When he fed them, they would thank him? But he’d tell them, “Don’t thank me, thank Hashem- He’s the Host. And in this way, through their Hakarat Hatov to him, they end up and thanking G-d. That was his trick.
But there was more to it, says the Shem M’Shemuel. When Avraham and Sara prepared the food, they had Emunah and Bitachon, prayed to G-d and infused it into the food.
That’s how the people became religious. Avaraham Avinu unleashed the spirituality into the food.
We sometimes see homes where not everyone in the house is on the same program. The wife goes to classes and learns, and slowly everyone in the house starts to move forward. Where is this coming from? She’s not preaching at lunch. How’d they all get connected?
Maybe the woman is listening to Emunah and Bitachon classes, and while she cooks, she prays to Hashem that it should all be successful, and somehow she unleashes the spirituality into the food!
That’s the power of recognizing daily that even if it’s in front of you, you have to say thank you AND please.
BeH we will all strengthen ourselves in this area.
Have a great day.