Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, explores that very feeling in Psalm 103. It speaks of remembering God's commandments, and what that really means when life gets complicated. It's not just about rote memorization, but about a deeper connection.
Rabbi Tanchuma offers a beautiful parable. Imagine a widow, completely reliant on her son for everything. He’s her rock, her provider. But then he gets married. Now, she knows, logically, that she can't expect the same level of attention. He has a wife, a new life. But still, she says to him, "My son, it comforts me just to remember those earlier times when I depended on you." The memory itself provides solace, a grounding.
Isn’t that profound? It's not about clinging to the past, but about finding strength in the memory of connection.
The Midrash then applies this to the Israelites in the desert. For forty years, they were sustained by miracles: manna (מָן), that mysterious food from heaven, and the miraculous well that provided water. According to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, these weren't just random acts of kindness; they were a direct result of the Israelites keeping their covenant with God. They were able to fully dedicate themselves to Torah because their basic needs were miraculously met. They had the time, the energy, and the focus. They were, in a sense, completely dependent on God.
But what happens when the manna stops falling? What happens when we have to work for our livelihood, when we're caught up in the daily grind?
That's when, the Midrash suggests, remembering God's commandments becomes even more important. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, the act of remembering isn't just a nostalgic exercise. It's a way of reconnecting to that feeling of dependence, of recognizing that even when we're seemingly self-sufficient, our ultimate source is still God.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle, isn't it? To forget the bigger picture. But Rabbi Tanchuma's widow reminds us that the memory of connection can be a lifeline. And the Midrash Tehillim reminds us that even in our most independent moments, remembering our covenant, remembering our source, can bring us back to a place of gratitude and awareness. A place where we recognize that we are never truly alone.