Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, we begin our deep dive into the core foundations of Hilchos Shabbos, focusing on the thirty-nine melachos (forbidden labors) that are the very pillars of the day's sanctity. The Rambam introduces us to the concept of avos melachos (primary categories of labor) and toldos (their derivatives), explaining how we determine what constitutes an av (primary category) based on the holy work that was done to construct the Mishkan.
We will learn the famous list of the thirty-nine melachos, starting from the agricultural steps of making bread—such as plowing, sowing, reaping, and baking—and moving through the processes of making garments, preparing hides, building, and transferring between domains. The Rambam lovingly lays out how these activities, which were necessary to build Hashem's sanctuary, define the boundaries of our rest on Shabbos.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
הל׳ א
שְׁלֹשִׁים וְתֵשַׁע אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת הָאֲסוּרוֹת בְּשַׁבָּתHalacha 1 · The Thirty-Nine Primary Categories of Forbidden Melacha on Shabbos
מְלָאכוֹתLaborsשֶׁחַיָּבִיןthat one is liableעֲלֵיהֶןupon themסְקִילָהstoningוְכָרֵתand karesבְּמֵזִידintentionallyאוֹorקָרְבַּןa sacrifice ofחַטָּאתsin offeringבִּשְׁגָגָה.unintentionallyמֵהֶןsome of themאָבוֹתare primary categoriesוּמֵהֶןand some of themתּוֹלָדוֹת.are derivativesוּמִנְיַןand the number ofכָּלallאֲבוֹתthe primary categories ofמְלָאכוֹתlaborsאַרְבָּעִיםis fortyחָסֵרminusאַחַת.oneוְאֵלּוּand theseהֵן.areהַחֲרִישָׁה.plowingוְהַזְּרִיעָה.and sowingוְהַקְּצִירָה.and reapingוְהָעִמּוּר.and gathering sheavesוְהַדִּישָׁה.and threshingוְהַזְּרִיָּה.and winnowingוְהַבְּרִירָה.and selectingוְהַטְּחִינָה.and grindingוְהַהַרְקָדָה.and siftingוְהַלִּישָׁה.and kneadingוְהָאֲפִיָּה.and bakingוְהַגְּזִיזָה.and shearingוְהַלִּבּוּן.and bleachingוְהַנִּפּוּץ.and combingוְהַצְּבִיעָה.and dyeingוְהַטְּוִיָּה.and spinningוַעֲשִׂיַּתand makingהַנִּירִין.the heddlesוְהַנְסָכַתand setting upהַמַּסֵּכָה.the warpוְהָאֲרִיגָה.and weavingוְהַבְּצִיעָה.and splittingוְהַקְּשִׁירָה.and tyingוְהַהַתָּרָה.and untyingוְהַתְּפִירָה.and sewingוְהַקְּרִיעָה.and tearingוְהַבִּנְיָן.and buildingוְהַסְּתִירָה.and demolishingוְהַכָּאָהand strikingבְּפַטִּישׁ.with a hammerוְהַצִּידָה.and trappingוְהַשְּׁחִיטָה.and slaughteringוְהַהַפְשָׁטָה.and skinningוְהַהַעֲבָדָה.and tanningוּמְחִיקַתand scrapingהָעוֹר.the hideוְחִתּוּכוֹ.and cutting itוְהַכְּתִיבָה.and writingוְהַמְּחִיקָה.and erasingוְהַשִּׂרְטוּט.and ruling linesוְהַהַבְעָרָה.and kindlingוְהַכִּבּוּי.and extinguishingוְהַהוֹצָאָהand transferringמֵרְשׁוּתfrom a domainלִרְשׁוּת:to a domain
This halacha lists the thirty-nine primary categories of forbidden labor on Shabbos, for which intentional transgression carries the penalty of stoning or kares, and unintentional transgression requires a sin offering.
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הַגְדָּרַת אֲבוֹת מְלָאכָה וְהַדּוֹמֶה לָהֶןHalacha 2 · Defining the Primary Categories of Labor and Their Analogous Activities
כָּלAllאֵלּוּtheseהַמְּלָאכוֹתthe laborsוְכָלand allשֶׁהוּאthat isמֵעִנְיָנָםof their matterהֵםtheyהַנִּקְרָאִיןare those calledאֲבוֹתfathers ofמְלָאכוֹת.laborsכֵּיצַדHowהוּאisעִנְיָנָן.their matterאֶחָדoneהַחוֹרֵשׁHe who plowsאוֹorהַחוֹפֵרhe who digsאוֹorהָעוֹשֶׂהhe who makesחָרִיץa grooveהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisאַבis a father ofמְלָאכָה.melachaשֶׁכָּלfor eachאַחַתoneוְאַחַתand oneמֵהֶןof themחֲפִירָהis diggingבַּקַּרְקַעin the groundוְעִנְיָןand a matterאֶחָדsingleהוּא:it is
This halacha defines the primary categories of labor (Avos Melachos) and explains that activities identical in nature to them are also classified as primary categories.
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הַזּוֹרֵעַ וְהַנּוֹטֵעַ וְהַזּוֹמֵר בְּשַׁבָּתHalacha 3 · The Primary Category of Sowing and Its Derivatives on Shabbos
וְכֵןAnd soהַזּוֹרֵעַone who sowsזְרָעִיםseedsאוֹorהַנּוֹטֵעַone who plantsאִילָנוֹתtreesאוֹorהַמַּבְרִיךְone who extendsאִילָנוֹתtreesאוֹorהַמַּרְכִּיבone who graftsאוֹorהַזּוֹמֵר.one who prunesכָּלallאֵלּוּtheseאָבprimary categoryאֶחָדoneהֵןareמֵאֲבוֹתfrom the primary categories ofמְלָאכוֹתlaborsוְעִנְיָןand conceptאֶחָדoneהוּא.it isשֶׁכָּלfor eachאַחַתoneמֵהֶןof themלְצַמֵּחַto cause to growדָּבָרa thingהוּאheמִתְכַּוֵּן:intends
This halacha establishes that sowing, planting, extending, grafting, and pruning are all classified under a single primary category of labor because they share the same objective of promoting plant growth.
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הַגְדָּרַת אַב מְלָאכָה שֶׁל קוֹצֵר וְתוֹלְדוֹתָיוHalacha 4 · Defining the Primary Category of Reaping and Its Subcategories
וְכֵןAnd soהַקּוֹצֵרone who reapsתְּבוּאָהgrainאוֹorקִטְנִיתlegumesאוֹorהַבּוֹצֵרone who harvestsעֲנָבִיםgrapesאוֹorהַגּוֹדֵרone who harvestsתְּמָרִיםdatesאוֹorהַמּוֹסֵקone who harvestsזֵיתִיםolivesאוֹorהָאוֹרֶהone who gathersתְּאֵנִים.figsכָּלallאֵלּוּtheseאַבa primary categoryמְלָאכָהof laborאַחַתoneהֵן.areשֶׁכָּלsince allאַחַתoneמֵהֶןof themלַעֲקֹרto uprootדָּבָרa thingמִגִּדּוּלָיוfrom its place of growthמִתְכַּוֵּן.intendsוְעַלand inדֶּרֶךְmannerזוֹthisשְׁאָרthe rest ofהָאָבוֹת:the primary categories
This halacha explains that harvesting different types of produce, though called by different names in Hebrew, all fall under the single primary category of reaping.
הל׳ ה
הַגְדָּרַת תּוֹלָדָה וּדְמֻיָּהּ לִמְלֶאכֶת טוֹחֵןHalacha 5 · The Definition of a Derivative and Its Similarity to the Labor of Grinding
הַתּוֹלָדָהThe derivativeהִיאisהַמְּלָאכָהthe laborהַדּוֹמָהthat resemblesלְאָבa primary categoryמֵאֵלּוּfrom theseהָאָבוֹת.primary categoriesכֵּיצַד.How soהַמְחַתֵּךְOne who cutsאֶת—הָיָּרָקthe vegetableמְעַטfinelyלְבַשְּׁלוֹto cook itהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthis oneחַיָּבis liableשֶׁזּוֹfor thisהַמְּלָאכָהlaborתּוֹלֶדֶתis a derivativeטְחִינָה.of grindingשֶׁהַטּוֹחֵןfor one who grindsלוֹקֵחַtakesגּוּףbodyאֶחָדoneוּמְחַלְּקוֹand divides itלְגוּפִיםinto bodiesהַרְבֵּה.manyוְכָלand anyoneהָעוֹשֶׂהwho doesדָּבָרa thingהַדּוֹמֶהthat resemblesלָזֶהthisהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisתּוֹלֶדֶתis a derivativeטוֹחֵן.of grindingוְכֵןAnd similarlyהַלּוֹקֵחַone who takesלָשׁוֹןa barשֶׁלofמַתֶּכֶתmetalוְשָׁףand filesאוֹתוֹitכְּדֵיin orderלִקַּחto takeמֵעֲפָרוֹfrom its dustכְּדֶרֶךְlike the wayשֶׁעוֹשִׂיםthat doצוֹרְפֵיgoldsmithsהַזָּהָבof the goldהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisתּוֹלֶדֶתis a derivativeטְחִינָה:of grinding
The Rambam defines a derivative labor as one that resembles a primary category, illustrating this with examples of grinding vegetables and filing metal.
הל׳ ו
מְלֶאכֶת בּוֹרֵר וּבוֹנֶה בִּגְבִינָה וְתוֹלְדוֹת הַמְּלָאכוֹתHalacha 6 · The Prohibition of Selecting and Building in Cheese Making and the Nature of Derivatives
וְכֵןAnd soהַלּוֹקֵחַone who takesחָלָבmilkוְנָתַןand placedבּוֹin itקֵיבָהstomach liningכְּדֵיin orderלְחָבְצוֹto curdle itהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisחַיָּבliableמִשּׁוּםbecause ofתּוֹלֶדֶתa derivative ofבּוֹרֵרselectingשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdהִפְרִישׁhe separatedהַקּוֹםthe wheyמִןfromהֶחָלָב.the milkוְאִםand ifגִּבְּנוֹhe curdled itוְעָשָׂהוּand made itגְּבִינָהcheeseחַיָּבliableמִשּׁוּםbecause ofבּוֹנֶה.buildingשֶׁכָּלfor anyoneהַמְקַבֵּץwho gathersחֵלֶקpartאֶלtoחֵלֶקpartוְדִבֵּקand gluesהַכּלthe wholeעַדuntilשֶׁיֵּעָשׂוּthey are madeגּוּףbodyאֶחָדoneהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisדּוֹמֶהresemblesלְבִנְיָן.to buildingוְכֵןAnd soלְכָלfor everyמְלָאכָהlaborוּמְלָאכָהand laborמֵאֵלּוּfrom theseהָאָבוֹתthe primary categoriesיֵשׁthere areלָהֶןto themתּוֹלָדוֹתderivativesעַלuponדֶּרֶךְwayזוֹthisשֶׁאָמַרְנוּ.that we saidוּמִגּוּףand from the body ofהַמְּלָאכָהthe laborהַנַּעֲשֵׂיתthat is doneבְּשַׁבָּתon Shabbosתֵּדַעyou will knowמֵעֵיןfrom the likeness ofאֵיwhichזֶהthisאָבprimary categoryהִיאit isוְתוֹלֶדֶתand a derivative ofאֵיwhichזֶהthisאָבprimary categoryהִיא:it is
The Rambam explains how curdling milk and making cheese violate the labors of selecting and building, and establishes how to categorize any derivative labor.
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הַהֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין אָבוֹת לְתוֹלָדוֹת לְעִנְיַן קָרְבָּןHalacha 7 · The Difference Between Primary Melachos and Derivatives Regarding Sin Offerings
אֶחָדOneהָעוֹשֶׂהwho performsאָבa primary categoryמֵאֲבוֹתof the primary categoriesמְלָאכוֹתof melachosאוֹorתּוֹלָדָהa derivativeמִןofהַתּוֹלָדוֹתthe derivativesבְּמֵזִידintentionallyחַיָּבis liableכָּרֵת.karetוְאִםand ifבָּאוּcameעֵדִיםwitnessesנִסְקָל.he is stonedבְּשׁוֹגֵגunintentionallyחַיָּבis liableחַטָּאתa sin offeringקְבוּעָה.fixedאִםifכֵּןsoמַהwhatהֶפְרֵשׁdifferenceיֵשׁis thereבֵּיןbetweenהָאָבוֹתthe primary categoriesוְהַתּוֹלָדוֹת.and the derivativesאֵיןthere is noבֵּינֵיהֶןbetween themהֶפְרֵשׁdifferenceאֶלָּאexceptלְעִנְיַןregardingהַקָּרְבָּןthe sacrificeבִּלְבַד.aloneשֶׁהָעוֹשֶׂהfor one who performsבְּשׁוֹגֵגunintentionallyאִםifעָשָׂהhe performedאָבוֹתprimary categoriesהַרְבֵּהmanyבְּהֵעָלֵםin a lapse of awarenessאֶחָדoneחַיָּבis liableחַטָּאתa sin offeringאַחַתoneעַלforכָּלeveryאָבprimary categoryוְאָב.and primary categoryוְאִםand ifעָשָׂהhe performedאָבa primary categoryוְתוֹלְדוֹתָיוand its derivativesבְּהֵעָלֵםin a lapse of awarenessאֶחָדoneאֵינוֹhe is notחַיָּבliableאֶלָּאexceptחַטָּאתa sin offeringאַחַת:one
This halacha explains that while both primary categories of labor and their derivatives carry the same capital and spiritual punishments, they differ in the number of sin offerings required for multiple unintentional transgressions.
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חִיּוּב חַטָּאוֹת עַל מְלָאכוֹת שׁוֹנוֹת בְּהֵעָלֵם אֶחָדHalacha 8 · Liability for Multiple Sin Offerings in a Single Lapse of Awareness
כֵּיצַד.Howהֲרֵיbeholdשֶׁחָרַשׁwho plowedוְזָרַעand sowedוְקָצַרand reapedבְּשַׁבָּתon Shabbosבְּהֵעָלֵםin a lapse of awarenessאֶחָדsingleחַיָּבis liableשָׁלֹשׁthreeחַטָּאוֹת.sin offeringsוַאֲפִלּוּAnd even ifעָשָׂהhe performedהָאַרְבָּעִיםthe fortyחָסֵרminusאַחַתoneבִּשְׁגָגָהinadvertentlyכְּגוֹןfor exampleשֶׁשָּׁכַחthat he forgotשֶׁאֵלּוּthat theseהַמְּלָאכוֹתthe laborsאֲסוּרוֹתare forbiddenלֵעָשׂוֹתto be doneבְּשַׁבָּתon Shabbosחַיָּבhe is liableעַלforכָּלeveryמְלָאכָהlaborוּמְלָאכָהand laborחַטָּאתsin offeringאַחַת.oneאֲבָלButאִםifטָחַןhe groundוְחָתַךְand cutהָיָּרָקthe vegetableוְשָׁףand pulverizedלָשׁוֹןa stripשֶׁלofמַתֶּכֶתmetalבְּהֵעָלֵםin a lapse of awarenessאֶחָדsingleאֵינוֹhe is notחַיָּבliableאֶלָּאexceptחַטָּאתsin offeringאַחַת.oneשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdלֹאnotעָשָׂהdid he performאֶלָּאexceptאָבa primary laborאֶחָדoneוְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו.and its derivativesוְכֵןAnd soכָּלallכַּיּוֹצֵאsimilarבָּזֶה:to this
This halacha explains when a person is liable for multiple sin offerings for performing different primary labors, versus a single offering for performing a primary labor and its derivatives.
הל׳ ט
חִיּוּב חַטָּאת אַחַת עַל מְלָאכוֹת הַרְבֵּה מֵעֵין מְלָאכָה אַחַתHalacha 9 · Liability of a Single Sin Offering for Multiple Labors of the Same Category
הָעוֹשֶׂהOne who performsמְלָאכוֹתlaborsהַרְבֵּהmanyמֵעֵיןof the type ofמְלָאכָהlaborאַחַתoneבְּהֵעָלֵםin a lapse of awarenessאֶחָדsingleאֵינוֹis notחַיָּבliableאֶלָּאexceptחַטָּאתa sin offeringאַחַת.oneכֵּיצַד.How soהֲרֵיBeholdשֶׁזָּרַעwho sowedוְנָטַעand plantedוְהִבְרִיךְand layeredוְהִרְכִּיבand graftedוְזָמַרand prunedבְּהֵעָלֵםin a lapse of awarenessאֶחָדsingleאֵינוֹis notחַיָּבliableאֶלָּאexceptחַטָּאתa sin offeringאַחַתoneשֶׁכֻּלָּןfor all of themאָבa primary categoryאֶחָדoneהֵן.areוְכֵןand soכָּלallכַּיּוֹצֵאsimilarבָּזֶה:to this
This halacha teaches that performing multiple subcategories of a single primary labor during one lapse of awareness requires only one sin offering.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The chapter establishes the thirty-nine primary categories of forbidden labor (avos melachos) on Shabbos, which are derived directly from the activities performed in the construction of the Mishkan. The Rambam enumerates each of these thirty-nine melachos in order, spanning agricultural, textile, leatherworking, and construction activities, as well as kindling, extinguishing, and transferring. Finally, the halachos clarify the definition of an "analogous activity," explaining that actions which are identical in nature and purpose to a primary category—such as digging or making a groove in the ground, which are identical to plowing—are treated as part of that very same primary category of labor.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
When we look at the thirty-nine melachos of Shabbos, it is easy to get lost in the technical details of plowing, sowing, or grinding. But the Rambam is teaching us a profound secret about how Hashem structured His world. Every single action we do has a root, an "av" (a father), and many branches, the "tolados" (the children). The Torah is showing us that nothing we do is isolated. A small, seemingly minor act like chopping a vegetable finely or curdling milk is directly connected to the great, foundational labors of the Mishkan.
This is a tremendous lesson for our daily avodah. Sometimes, the yetzer hara tries to convince us that our small deeds do not matter. We think, "What is the big deal if I say one small word of lashon hara, or if I show a tiny bit of anger, or conversely, if I do one small favor for another Yid? It is just a minor detail!" But the halachah of av and toldos teaches us otherwise. Every small action is a child of a larger spiritual reality. A small act of patience is a toldah of deep emunah; a small slip of the tongue is a toldah of a lack of yiras Shamayim. Everything is connected to a root.
When we realize that our smallest daily choices carry the weight of their spiritual parents, we begin to live with more mindfulness and respect for our own actions. We see that we are not just drifting through random moments, but constantly building or, chas v'shalom, tearing down.
Today, before you perform a seemingly small act of chesed or make a minor decision in your service of Hashem, pause for one second and remind yourself: "This small deed is a toldah of something eternal and holy."