40-less-1 activities prohibited on Sabbat

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 'Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the LORD who sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested. '

Exodus 31:12-17

Jewish law (halakha), especially the Mishna Shabbat 7:2 identifies 40-less-1 (=39) categories of activity prohibited on Shabbat.  Many rabbinical scholars have pointed out that these regulations of labour have something in common : they prohibit any activity that is creative, or that excercises control or dominion over one’s environment.

Many of these activities are also prohibited on the Jewish holidays listed in the Torah, although there are significant exceptions permitting carrying and preparing food under specific circumstances.

Mishna is a Jewish oral traditions believed to be received by Moses at Mount Sinai in parallel with the Torah.  Thus it itself is authoritative, and does not cite a written scriptural basis for its laws.  By 220CE, much of the Oral Law was redacted by Rabbi Judah HaNasi.

Meaning of “Work”

“Work” in English is translated from Hebrew word “melakha”, but the word does not correspond to Hebrew definition.

The Rabbis notted that in Genesis 2:1-3, God was ‘ceasing from creation’.  The same word “melakha” is used in Exodus 31:1-11 (making of the Tabernacle) and 31:12-17 (keep Shabbat as a day of rest), which has a stong element of ‘creation’ or ‘creativity’.

List

There are 2 main ways to divide the activities into groups: one is according to work needed to make the Tabernacle; the other according to the work needed for the man himself.

1. Planting זורע

2. Plowing חורש

3. Reaping קוצר

4. Binding sheaves מעמר

5. Treshing דש

6. Winnowing זורה

7. Selecting  בורר

8. Grinding  טוחן

9. Sifting מרקד

10.Kneading לש

11.Baking אופה

12.Shearing wool גוזז צמר

13.Scouring/Laundering/Washing wool  מלבנו

14. Beating/Combing wool מנפצו

15.Dyeing צובע

16.Spinning טווה

17.Weaving מיסך

18.Making two loops עושה שני בתי נירין

19.Weaving at least two threads אורג שני חוטין

20.Separating two threads פוצע שני חוטין

21.Tying קושר

22.Untying מתיר

23.Sewing at least two stitches תופר שתי תפירות

24.Tearing for the purpose of sewing  קורע על מנת לתפור שתי תפירות

25.Trapping צד צבי

26.Slaughtering שוחט

27.Flaying מפשט

28.Salting/curing hide מעבד

29.Scraping hide ממחק

30.Scoring משרטט

31.Cutting hide indo pieces מחתך

32.Writing כותב

33.Erasing מוחק על מנת לכתוב שתי אותיות

34.Building בונה

35.Tearing something down סותר

36.Extinguishing a fire

37.Igniting a fire

38.Applying the finishing touch מכה בפטיש

39.Transferring between domains מוציא מרשות לרשות / הוצאה