#200: Watering Plants (Part 1)

1. In addition to actual planting, watering live plants or trees on Shabbat is also forbidden biblically on Shabbat – as a toladah (subcategory) of zore’a, since watering, like planting, facilitates its growth (Shulchan Aruch 336:3).

2. One may not pour water over plants or grass outside on Shabbat, such as when washing one’s hands outside. This is true even if one’s intent is not to water the vegetation, since it nevertheless constitutes a “pesik reisha,” an act which definitely results in a melachah even if it is not one’s intent (Ibid.).

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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.