What is the Work and Labor which we are to rest from?

Q.  I am new to Torah study and I am convinced that we should keep the 7th Day Sabbath, but my question is what is the "work" or "labor" that we are supposed to rest from and is it alright to drive on Sabbath since that would create a fire in the engine?

A.   If you look into the Hebrew word for "Work" it is "Melachah" and it means your work that you do for a living, that which you make money doing, your creative work.  In Scripture it will sometimes say "Abodah Melachah" which is often translated "servile work".  This is what we are to Rest from.  As far as not driving on  Sabbath because it would kindle a fire in the engine.  Keep in mind what I just said and also look at the one time the Torah says to not kindle a fire on Sabbath in Exodus 35:3.  Notice the context first.  This is when they are gathering all of the contributions of all the materials needed to build the Tabernacle and for the building of it.   Notice that it says "You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.  Remember their dwellings where tents in the wilderness.  This is talking about a work fire.  This is the reason the man was gathering wood on the Sabbath in Numbers 15:32.  If you are "kindling a fire" by driving to work in your car on the Sabbath then I would agree, but if you are driving to Bible Study or Synagogue on the Sabbath, then there is not a problem.  Traveling on Sabbath is ok unless it is for your work or job in which you get paid for.  Not traveling on Sabbath is an additional teaching of rabbinic judaism that says you can't travel certain distances on Sabbath.  The Bible never says such.  Remember that in Leviticus 23 the Sabbath is a "Holy Convocation", which is a "set-apart rehearsal" to the LORD.  If only one person shows up or no people show up for rehearsal, there is no rehearsal.  Today, where we live (outside of Jerusalem),  If you don't drive on the Sabbath, you are then not able to fulfill the command in Leviticus 23:3.  Yes, the perfect situation would be to live close enough to walk to Study or Synagogue, but where we are today, this is not the case for most.  Remember it says "not to kindle a fire in your dwelling".  Again, this only has to do with a work fire.  If a cold snap hit and your family was freezing, would it be wrong to collect wood to build a fire to warm your family or even to make some soup for the benefit of their well-being?  Of course not.  Torah allows Life to be more important than the "letter of the Law".  This is the same as helping the neighbor with the ox in the ditch.  It is never wrong or a sin to do good on the Sabbath.  If a command in the Bible seems to negate another command, then we have a conflict and that is chaos.  Our GOD is not a GOD of Chaos, but of Order.   I hope that this helps.  Maranatha, John