#193: Introduction to the 39 Melachot
1. Over the past few months, we have explored many halachot related to the positive mitzvot of Shabbat, such as lighting candles, making Kiddush, eating the Shabbat meals, and reciting Havdalah. We will now begin delving into the negative mitzvot of Shabbat, starting with an overview of the concept of “melachah.” The Torah commands us not to perform any “melachah” (creative labor) on Shabbat (Shemot ch. 20). However, it does not explicitly define what qualifies as melachah. Chazal identified 39 different categories of prohibited melachah on Shabbat (Tractate Shabbat 73a).
2. The 39 categories of prohibited melachah on Shabbat are derived from the activities in building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle (Tractate Shabbat 49b). Each one of these categories was performed in some essential way during the construction or operation of the Mishkan. For instance, the first group of melachot, beginning with planting and including selecting, grinding, and cooking, were involved in the preparation of the dyes and are also connected to the process of baking bread.
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
