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Chabad.org » Learning & Values » Weekly Torah (Parshah) » Shemot - Exodus » Beshalach » Parshah Columnists » Heaven Exposed » Manna in a Basket

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Heaven Exposed
Manna in a Basket

By Tzvi Freeman

In truth, there are two possible channels by which to receive your livelihood, according to the perspective you take in life:

You could decide to become just another element of nature, chasing after your bread in the chaos, running the race of survival of the fittest.

And the fact is, you may even do well taking this route --in the short run. In the long run, however, your soul is being denied its nourishment, and your body, too, will never feel satisfied.

Or you could see your life as an intimate relationship with the Source of Life Above --as though all your livelihood was no more than manna from heaven, handed to you personally and lovingly straight from the hand of your G-d and partner in all you do.

Then your main job is to keep the basket where your manna will fall sparkling clean, insuring that no one is being hurt or misled by your business. To spend the profits you are granted on spreading kindness in the world.

Maybe you'll get rich this way. Maybe you won't. But you will always be satisfied.

11 Comments

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Latest Comments:

Posted: Jan 13, 2011

Agree Totally!

"Or you could see your life as an intimate relationship with the Source of Life Above --as though all your livelihood was no more than manna from heaven, handed to you personally and lovingly straight from the hand of your G-d and partner in all you do.

Then your main job is to keep the basket where your manna will fall sparkling clean, insuring that no one is being hurt or misled by your business. To spend the profits you are granted on spreading kindness in the world."

Agree totally with this wisdom! Every word is the voice of my own heart.

Posted By Syed

Posted: Aug 30, 2010

Satisfaction!

Satisfaction without hurting others is the main point. Thanks for explaining!

Regards.

Posted By Shahid

Posted: Aug 30, 2010

earning a living

this question has been driving me nuts for ages. I know how to make money in the secular world but every time i go that course I sacrifice my femininity, my values, my learning. On the other hand when I do everything right religiously and try to live the most upright life I end up broke and practically a charity case. Now i know the world right now is divided into secular and spiritual. the secular world where all the money is does not give a hoot about your values, family, femininity etc. the secular world by and large cares only about the bottom line. The spiritual world on the other hand is concerned with your soul, your character, values, family, peace and kindness. Yet no one seems to worry too much about the cost of gym memberships or furniture in your home or healthy food.
What I am asking is how on earth do you earn money, be spiritual, keep to your values and not go broke?
I can forego all the luxuries but there are physical and material needs that as human we cant escape.

Posted By rhl

Posted: Aug 30, 2010

when labor is polititcal

i agree with our south african post. he reflects an extreme of the geo-political condition where labor is tied to politics. so much "work" is meaningless, producing the "stuff" that earlier daily dose readings have decried. we should remember that we are not separate self-contained entities, reaching for our individual manna, feeding our individual families. we are all, together, the presence of G-d on earth, also reflecting the meaning of the Shema, G-d's Oneness. We act in unison, even if our limited perspectives cannot see the greater whole. If work is not meaningful, we are not feeding that part of the "body" of G-d's presence here on earth, no different than not "feeding" our spiritual "selves." Sometimes we have to take a political stand, against repression, whether at the voting booth or in our decisions on what to purchase and from where. This is not only the meaning of Ahavas Yisroel (loving one's fellow Jew), but loving all persons as we love G-d, with all our hearts, souls, and minds.

Posted By Anonymous, portsmouth, oh

Posted: Aug 30, 2010

relationsships

Fantastic, and absolutely right. You are a send from Heaven. Please keep sending me your daily dose.

Posted By Rene´Chawes, copenhagen, Denmark

Posted: Feb 4, 2009

Manna in a Basket

For me, Rabbi Freeman brings to mind words from the Shema: "Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead;" Whether we are feverishly at work in the "rat race" or dutifully engaged in other more pious pursuits, our mind's eye should dwell upon a reminder of the Eternal One, blessed be He.

Although there are two possible channels by which to receive our livelihoods, there is no dichotomy in the L-rd. One's perspective is another matter. We struggle within ourselves, as if there are two opposing forces always at odds, one our worldly, practical side and the other our spiritual, G-d seeking side. It is as though the twins Esau and Jacob, our father, struggle within us as they struggled with each other in the womb.

And so, may we seek to perfect our perspectives. May we seek to be like our father Jacob, to struggle, to prevail and to receive our blessing. May we be ever mindful of our loving partner in this world.

Posted By Anonymous, Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted: Feb 3, 2009

relationships

I think the idea of this pertaining to business matters can be interchangeable with this pertaining to relationships as well, no?

Posted By Anonymous, New York, NY

Posted: Feb 2, 2009

Manna from Heaven

When I read the contents it is difficult to
comprehend when you find here in Africa parts of Africa have 95 percent unemplyment and huge amounts of Starvation.Many people dont have one meal a day.
I think it is not as easy as you make out unfortunately.

Posted By Richard, Sandton, South Africa

Posted: Feb 1, 2009

Wonderful

This comes at a time when it is greatly needed in my house. It is going to confirm answers we have been given by G-d regarding fears of job layoff, unemployment, etc. I will forward this to my husband's e-mail immediately and let him find it.

Posted By Peninnah, Ky, USA

Posted: Feb 1, 2009

how much effort do we undertake ourselves?

I truly believe that G-d is the only address for determining our livelihood and that it is determined on Rosh Hashana - Yom Kippur - the question then is if you are unemployed -how much time do you spend job searching versus praying - where are the tradeoffs? what does G-d want from us and how do we determine what is our mission and our potential ? How do we know if we are on the wrong road and needlessly wasting time and energy? How much may we rely on the manna and faith and how much does G-d reward honest effort and expect it of us?

Posted By Susan Barth, Bet Shemesh, Israel