#274: An Introduction to the Melachah of Zoreh

1. The next melachah after dosh (threshing) is zoreh, winnowing. This refers to the process of using the force of wind to separate the kernels, chaff, and other debris that remained mixed together on the ground following the threshing process (see the previous posts on dosh). Shovels would be used to scoop up the mixture and throw it into the wind. The lighter chaff would be blown away, and the heavier kernels would fall back to the ground (The 39 Melochos, p.374).

2. The melachah of zoreh includes any manner of separating or removing undesired matter from a food or substance using the wind. In addition, some maintain that any indiscriminate scattering of a substance by force of wind is also included. This approach is accepted by the Rema (O.C. 319:17), but it is rejected by many Acharonim (Bi’ur Halacha 319:17).

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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.