Q. I always wondered if one could taste any taste one desired when eating the mon, what was the correct attitude when one ate it? Since this was a kind of spiritual food and Hashem's gift, was it appropriate to have in mind the best taste possible, enjoying it and thanking Hashem for it. or was it more befitting to avoid the good flavor sensation, as in "kedoshim ticheyu" and desire no taste or even want a bad taste feeling when one ate it?
A. Remah (O.H. 242: 1) mentions that the kugel one eats on Shabbos is in remembrance of the mon that Bnei Yisroel ate while they were traveling through the desert. Mishna Berura (ibid. 2) asserts that when eating it one complies with the mitzva of Oneg Shabbos. Geulas Yisroel (quoted by Mishnas Hashabbos (2: 2: n.15) explains "a person complies with the mitzva of Oneg Shabbos when eating the exquisite Shabbos delicacies, that possess all flavors as the mon did."
On Yom Tov, there is a mitzva of Simchas Yom Tov or rejoicing during Yom Tov. It is explained by our Sages, as consuming the palatable foods one desires and enjoys such as meat and wine.
Whether, a similar mitzva existed when eating the mon every day, would seem from the above comparisons that it did. It would seem reasonable and logical that if one was to thank Hashem for the miracle provided, one should indeed enjoy it. Especially, as you mentioned, it was after all mainly a spiritual nourishment.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that there was no special mitzva in eating the mon daily, and no birchas hamitzvos was recited. However, as mentioned above, since it was a miraculous and spiritual gift from Hashem, it should have been eaten with great simcha, joy and hakoras hatov to Him.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
