#199: The Melachah of Zore’a - An Introduction

1. The melachah of zore’a (planting), the first of the thirty-nine melachot, includes planting seeds or saplings in the ground on Shabbat, even if they do not take root until after Shabbat (Tractate Shabbat 73b). One may also not scatter seeds outside in an area of soil that will almost certainly cause them to take root in the ground.

2. Scattering seeds or disposing of them outside in an area where they may not take root (e.g., a well trodden path or area without soil) does not violate zore’a if one does not intend to plant, since this is classified as a “davar she’eino mitkavein,” a melachah that is not certain to occur and one does not intend, which is permitted (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 336:4; Orchot Shabbat 18:2). Nevertheless, seeds or saplings are usually muktzeh and may not be moved in any case (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 308:29).

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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.