PARSHAT BEREISHIT In telling the story of Creation, the Torah relates that "G-d finished on the seventh day His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." In commenting on the words "G-d finished on the seventh day," Rashi notes: "Rabbi Shimon says, 'A human being can never be sure of the exact time, thus he must supplement the holy [day of Shabbos] by adding to it from the mundane [weekday]. G-d, however, who knows His exact moments and seconds, can enter into it [Shabbos] by a hairbreadth.' It thus seemed as if the work was concluded on that day."

The preciousness of every moment is emphasized to an even greater degree by Rashi's additional question: "What was the world lacking? Tranquillity. When Shabbos arrived, tranquillity came as well. The work was then concluded and complete." Until the actual arrival of Shabbos and the concurrent "hairbreadth" of labor, all that had been achieved was considered "incomplete" and "lacking." This teaches us that using every moment wisely and well is so crucial that if an individual has occasion to do but another "hairbreadth" and wastes the opportunity, he is lacking completion in all those aspects of the work and service which he has fulfilled until then. When all our moments, like G-d's, are so precious that none of them are wasted, when all are filled with positive accomplishments, then, like Him, we are able to enjoy the tranquillity that comes from knowing we did our best. (Frrom: Wellsprings by Rabbi Sholom Wineberg, Based on Likkutei Sichos, Vol. V, pp. 24-34.)

"And G-d built the rib which He had taken from the man into a woman, and He brought her to the man." (2:22) QUESTION: In the berachot recited under the chuppah, and during the week of sheva berachot, we say "Grant abundant joy to these loving friends, as You bestowed gladness upon Your created beings in the Garden of Eden of old." What happiness did Adam and Chava experience? ANSWER: According to an opinion in the Gemara (Berachot 61a), Adam and Chava were created together as one, back to back. Hashem afterwards separated them, and they became two individuals. Strife and suffering occur when people "turn their backs" on each other and refuse to communicate. People experience happiness when they "see" each other face to face. The blessing to the chatan and kallah is that, throughout the years of their married life, they should always communicate "face to face," and never "turn their backs" on each other. (From:Vedibarta Bam by Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky)

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cling to his wife." (2:24) QUESTION: Why does the Torah make leaving one's parents a prerequisite for marriage? ANSWER: According to the Torah, the success of a marriage depends on forsaking the particular relationship that exists between child and parent. The son during his formative years is usually on the receiving end. He has not fully developed his capacity to give. One who marries is expected to become the supplier materially and spiritually for his wife and children.  One cannot enter marriage, however, expecting to continue being the recipient. The art of giving must be developed. Therefore, the Torah says, leave the parent-child relationship, and the childish inclinations. Learn to be a giver, and thus the marriage will succeed. (Ibid)

Choraish - The act of plowing is the Av Melocho of Choraish (Plowing). Plowing loosens and cultivates the soil, thereby making it more suitable for planting. The plowshare cuts into the hard ground, loosening the soil and forming long furrows into which seeds, pits, and bulbs can effectively be implanted. Therefore any activity that loosens the soil is a Toldah of Choraish. EX: Dragging a heavy chair on soft earth (and creating a furrow) is Choraish because the legs of the chair scrape and loosen the soil while being dragged.

Choraish can occur even when done without any special tools or eqiupment. For example, scraping or digging the soil with a stick, spoon, the heels of one's shoe, etc. are all acts of Choraish.

Choraish does not apply to very fine dry sand because this sand is already loose and any additional scraping or digging is of no consequence. It follows that one is permitted to drag a chair over very dry powdery sand even though a furrow will result. However the firmer soil beneath the sand is subject to Choraish . Therefore, if the chair will penetrate the firmer soil, dragging the chair is prohibited. (From: The 39 Melochos by Dovid Ribiat)

G-d does not withhold His good, and therefore, when a person draws close to G-d, he is continuously enlightened by Him. It is only when an individual does not bring himself close to G-d that he is deprived of His light. The deprivation however, is due to the recipient and not to G-d.