“Take one jar and put a full omer of manna into it …” (16:33)
Moshe instructed Aharon to take one portion of manna and place it in the Aron (Ark) next to the Sefer Torah. This served as an eternal reminder of Hashem’s love for His people and how He sustained them in the wilderness for forty years. Rabbeinu Bachya (16:33) deduces an additional insight from this pasuk. The manna was placed right next to the Sefer Torah to symbolize that when a person chooses a profession with which to support himself and his family, it should preferably be one that will keep him close to Torah.
Hagaon Harav Avraham Pam zt”l said over an important lesson that can be learnt from here. A person’s place of employment, office surroundings, and coworkers often put him in a situation that is antithetical to Torah. He feels he has no choice if he wants to advance in his career and earn a comfortable salary.
Therefore, based on the words of Rabbeinu Bachya, Rav Pam explains that we can learn that it is worthwhile for a person to accept a lower-paying job with less opportunity for professional and financial advancement and remain in the wholesome, pristine atmosphere of Torah rather than a higher-paying one in the decadent atmosphere that often permeates the “outside” world’s offices today. On a side note, we are also influenced by our friends. It is crucial to keep a distance from someone who has a negative influence on you even if it means some personal loss.
Beshalach PDF https://parshaknowledge.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/beshalach.pdf
