Beshalach 5786 – Ain’t Gonna Tax on Saturday

There is something special not happening this Shabbos.

Living in Israel comes with many small joys, and one of them is how Shabbos and Jewish holidays are largely observed and even legally recognized. For example, there’s a rule that if a tax deadline falls on a Friday or Shabbos, it’s simply pushed to the following Sunday. This year, the end-of-January deadline for 10% rental payments and Osek Patur declarations falls on the weekend, so it will be on February 1st instead.

In Parshas Bereishis, we’re told that Shabbos is “blessed and made holy.” Rashi explains that it was blessed because of the double portion of Manna given on Friday, and made holy because there was no Manna on Shabbos itself.

The Ramban asks a thoughtful question: why would the Torah describe Shabbos in reference to something that only happened for a short time in history? The Manna was around for just 40 years while the Bnei Yisroel wandered in the desert. What about the thousands of years before and after—what made Shabbos “blessed and holy” then?

The Maharal in Gur Aryeh offers a beautiful answer: the Manna wasn’t what made Shabbos holy; it was a reflection of its inherent holiness. Shabbos is intrinsically blessed and sacred. As we sing in Lecha Dodi, it is a source of blessing. One sign of that blessing is that we are never left lacking, even when we refrain from work. Through the gift of the Manna—and through every generation—Hashem reminds us: deadline or no deadline, you don’t need to worry.

For any deadline related or other financial issues you require assistance with please reach out, not on Shabbos, at [email protected].

Good Shabbos.