Negative Mitzvah 320: It is forbidden to work on Shabbat
Exodus 20:10 "You shall not do any manner of work"

Before the first Shabbat of the world, HaShem completed His work of creation.

Everything had been created during the first six days and He declared Shabbat a holy day of rest.

HaShem wants us to rest from our weekday work, too.

He commanded us to keep the Shabbat holy and not do any work.

What work is forbidden?

What one person may find a fun hobby, another may view as a tedious job.

What does HaShem define as work?

The Torah defines thirty-nine forbidden activities which are called "Melachah" - work - and which may not done on the Shabbat.

Using those rules as a base, our Rabbis have taught us a code of laws instructing us how to keep Shabbat.

We are not allowed to do any of those activities which the Torah considers to be Melachah on Shabbat.

---

There are two types of miracles: Those beyond nature and those enclothed within it. The water of the Nile turning into blood was beyond nature. The victory of the Maccabees over the Greek army was enclothed within nature -- they had to fight to win.

Both types of miracles are necessary.

If we would only see miracles beyond nature, we would know that G-d can do whatever He likes -- but we might think He must break the rules to do so. We would know a G-d who is beyond nature, but not within it. If we would see only miracles that are enclothed within nature, we would know that G-d is the Master of all that happens within nature. But we might think He is limited within it. Now we know that G-d is at once both beyond and within. In truth, there is nothing else but Him.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com