The Israelites certainly did, wandering in the desert after the Exodus. They had manna, that miraculous bread from heaven, but they yearned for meat. They grumbled, they complained, and they wished... and God, in His infinite patience, listened.
According to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, God granted their wish, but with a subtle message woven into the gift. Toward evening, thick swarms of quails – birds, mind you! – rose up from the sea, covering the entire camp. They flew low, barely a few amot (ells, or cubits) above the ground, practically begging to be caught. Can you imagine the scene? A flurry of wings, a cacophony of squawks, and a people scrambling for a taste of something new.
But here's where the story gets interesting. Unlike the manna, which appeared in the morning with a radiant blessing, the quails arrived at night. Ginzberg tells us God provided the manna with a "radiant countenance," because their desire for bread was justified. But the quails? They came under the cloak of darkness, a sign of God's, shall we say, complicated feelings about this particular request.
Think about it: manna, the staple, arrived with the dawn, full of light and hope. Quail, the luxury, came with the dusk, perhaps hinting at the darkness of unchecked desire.
This difference in timing, morning versus evening, wasn't lost on Moses. He saw it as a lesson, a divine nudge toward moderation and gratitude. According to Legends of the Jews, Moses instituted a custom: two meals a day. Manna in the morning to nourish the body and soul, and meat in the evening, a carefully portioned indulgence.
And with this new custom came a new prayer, a bracha (blessing). This prayer, which Moses taught the people, was to be recited after eating the manna. It's a beautiful expression of gratitude: "Blessed be Thou, O God our Lord, King of the world, who in Thy bounty, dost provide for all the world; who, in Thy grace, goodwill, and mercy, dost grant food to every creature, for Thy grace is everlasting. Thanks to Thy bounty we have never lacked food, nor ever shall lack it, for Thy great name's sake. For Thou suppliest and providest for all; Thou art bountiful, and nourishest all Thy creatures which Thou has made. Blessed be Thou, O God, that dost provide for all."
This prayer, as we find in Legends of the Jews, is a powerful reminder to appreciate the blessings we receive. It urges us to see the divine hand in our daily sustenance, not just when we get the things we crave, but in the simple, reliable gifts that keep us going. What does it mean to be truly grateful for the everyday miracles in your life? What "manna" are you taking for granted? Perhaps the story of the quails is a gentle nudge to reflect on the difference between need and want, and to offer thanks for the abundance that surrounds us, both day and night.