Feeding the Birds on Shabbos Shira

There is a minhag to feed the birds on Shabbos Shira. The Yismach Yisroel notes the objection of the Mogen Avrohom, who rules against this practice, since the birds do not rely on us for their food and so we should not feed them (Orach Chaim 324). The Alexander Rebbe counters that this is itself the very lesson of the monn. We are like the birds: we do not rely on human hands to feed us, as domesticated animals and beasts of burden do. If we relied on sustenance from human hands, we could be likened to beasts of burden, and no better. Rather, we feed the birds because it reminds us that we are like them, relying on Hashem alone to feed and nourish us.