The Thirty Nine Melachos
There are Thirty Nine things that are forbidden to do on A Sabbath. These thirty-nine things which are forbidden to be done on Sabbath are called "melachos". A "melacha" is a creative act which was done to construct the sanctuary. The architecture and components of the sanctuary conceptually represent the universe. Basically, by refraining from creative acts that were done to construct the sanctuary, we demonstrate our belief that Yahuah is the creator of the universe. The thirty-nine melachos represent thirty-nine classes of creative acts. There are actually thousands of creative acts which fall under these classes and are forbidden.
To help us be more Torah observant our leaders try to explain these with Torah teachings so as to help us to insure that our behavior is consistent to Torah teachings. The thirty-nine melachos are what the Torah expressly forbids. There are thousands of things that we do or don't do, whose source is grounded in the teachings of the Torah.
Finally, you can't learn everything you need to know about what to do and not to do from just reading a list listing. For example, cutting is a melacha. Does this mean that you can't cut up your food on a Sabbath? You truly need a guide and /or a teacher to teach you what you need to know what to do.
So, while the list consists of thirty-nine items, you really need to know a lot more in order to do Sabbath correctly. However, a list is a good starting point for the beginning student. Given this introduction, the thirty-nine melachos are as follows:
1) Plowing, 2) sowing, 3) reaping, 4) sheaf-making, 5) threshing, 6) winnowing (straining), 7) selecting, 8) sifting, 9) grinding, 10) kneading, 11) Cooking, 12) baking, 13) Shearing, 14) bleaching, 15) combing, 16) dyeing, 17) spinning, 18) un-spinning, 19) weaving, 20) unweaving, 21) tying, 22) untying, 23) sewing, 24) tearing, 25) Trapping, 26) slaughtering, 27) skinning, 28) tanning, 29) scraping, 30) marking out, 31) cutting, 32) Writing, 33) erasing, 34) building, 35) demolishing, 36) making a fire, 37) extinguishing, 38) finishing something off, 39) carrying.
In the above list are several things I would like to talk about here. Some are rather self explanatory such as 1) Plowing, 2) sowing, 4) sheaf-making, 5) threshing, 6) winnowing, 7) selecting, 8) sifting, 9) grinding, 10) kneading, 11) cooking 12) baking, 13) Shearing, 14) bleaching, 15) combing, 16) dyeing, 17) spinning, 18) un-spinning, 19) weaving, 20) unweaving, 21) tying, 22) untying, 25) Trapping, 26) slaughtering, 27) skinning, 28) tanning, 29) scraping, 30) marking out, 33) erasing, 34) building, 35) demolishing, 36) making a fire, 37) extinguishing, 38) finishing something off
3) reaping, 21) tying, 23) sewing, 24) tearing, 31) cutting, 32) Writing, 36) making a fire, 39) carrying.
I will start with "reaping" It is acceptable to pick something for food in the event you have been keep from food for some reason and are very week and unable to continue one until after Sabbath.
Second is "Typing" Typing for the most part is a form of writing and writing on Sabbath is forbidden. However with today's Technology typing has become a form of communicating as much as sign language. Provided what is typed is not printed or is kept for future printing this form of typing would be acceptable as is sign language. The reasoning here is that no work should be done on Sabbath. If one should type something and save it to disk or hard drive to be printed later this would be breaking the commandment of not to do any gainful work on Sabbath.
Next is "Sewing" As anyone who has done any amount of sewing knows sewing is work. When would it be alright to sew on Sabbath? In such a rare case as one is in public and a way from any change of clothing and one rips or tears one clothing and is exposing parts of their body which should not be seen. Then to go into a private place and sew up the garment would be allowed and expected.
Now we come to "tearing" their could be a few reasons where tearing would be allowed first to tear or cut a cloth to patch your tore garment. It is quite acceptable and expected of you to tear cloth to provide a bandage for someone in an emergency.
Next is "cutting" cutting as mentioned in the above paragraph is acceptable. Also it is acceptable to cut ones food to make the pieces small enough to get in to ones mouth.
Writing? When would it be OK to write on the Sabbath? These cases are rare indeed, one would be expected to write down important instructions for life saving measures or directions for a similar purpose.
Now we come to "Making a fire" This would follow the same reasons as writing. One may kindle a fire or make a fire in the event it is to save a life. After all to save a life is the best "good deed" we can do.
Last is "carrying" what would we be allowed to carry on Sabbath? First
food, medicine, clothing and other necessities of the ones in sever need.
In short to save a life or property. The property may be all
that that person has or could mean the difference between surviving or not.
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