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Jewish Concepts: Melachot

Jewish law (Halakha) defines thirty-nine categories of activities that are prohibited on Shabbat. These prohibited activities, or Melachot, are divided into six categories.

Field Work

  • Sowing
  • Plowing
  • Reaping
  • Binding
  • Threshing
  • Winnowing
  • Selecting
  • Grinding
  • Sifting
  • Kneading
  • Baking

Making Material

  • Shearing Wool
  • Cleaning
  • Combing
  • Dying
  • Spinning
  • Stretching Threads
  • Making Loops
  • Weaving Threads
  • Separating Threads
  • Tying a Knot
  • Untying a Knot
  • Sewing
  • Tearing

Making Leather Material

  • Trapping
  • Slaughtering
  • Skinning
  • Tanning
  • Smoothing
  • Ruling Lines
  • Cutting

Making the Beams of the Mishkan

  • Writing
  • Erasing

Putting up & Taking Down of the Mishkan

  • Building
  • Breaking Down

The Mishkan's Final Touches

  • Entinguishing a Fire
  • Kindling a Fire
  • Striking a Final Hammer Blow
  • Carrying

Source: Chabad