What is Allowed and What is Forbidden on Shabbat?

Shabbat Shalom

The address has arrived, and with Hashem's help, everything will be delivered by mail next week.

Blessed are you for beginning to observe Shabbat, and even if you stumble here and there, continue to keep it and do not despair.

The lightbulb should be removed before Shabbat. The laws of Shabbat include several main topics, which are summarized according to Rabbi Zamir Cohen Shlit"a. 

Here are some key laws related to Shabbat:

Honoring Shabbat: This is done through wearing respectable clothing, having three festive meals, singing Shabbat songs, etc. There should be an atmosphere of serenity and royalty on Shabbat, which is expressed in several ways:

1. The prohibition against running in a hurried manner as one does during weekdays for material pursuits. Running for enjoyment is permitted, as well as running for a mitzvah.

2. Avoiding discussions about one’s business, such as calculating debts and bills, purchasing plans, etc. One should act as if all his business is arranged and sorted. Discussions about general financial and business matters enjoyed for their own sake, without any practical personal implications, as well as political or news topics enjoyed for conversation, are allowed. Lighting Shabbat candles: Close to the entrance of Shabbat, at the time indicated in the calendar (and in any case, no later than five minutes before sunset on Friday), the woman lights the Shabbat candles with a blessing (Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light Shabbat candles). If there is no woman in the home, the man lights with a blessing.

(Those from Sephardic communities usually bless before lighting, while those from Ashkenazic communities say the blessing after lighting). The laws of muktzeh (items set aside) on Shabbat: Any object that a person designates and removes his mind from on Shabbat due to it being unfit for use on Shabbat (such as tools, sewing supplies, writing implements, stones, dirt, etc.) is prohibited to move on Shabbat.

(Moving means physically shifting it, such as lifting, pushing with a finger or hand, etc. Merely touching without movement is not forbidden. Moving it in an unusual manner, such as sliding it with the back of the hand, is permitted).

However, there is a difference between objects that have a category of a tool but are designated for prohibited work (such as tools, sewing supplies, writing implements, etc.) which may be moved for Shabbat’s needs (e.g., a hammer to crack nuts, or lifting and taking these tools for use where they are placed). Once lifted appropriately, it may be placed in any room, shelf, or desired place, versus items that do not have the definition of a tool (such as stones, dirt, animals, etc.) which may not be moved even for Shabbat’s needs (for instance, lifting a stone to crack a nut or using it for a chair is prohibited. However, it is permitted to tilt a chair so that the stone falls off).

The laws of Kiddush on Shabbat: On Friday night, after the evening prayer, one should enter the home with a cheerful demeanor and a hearty greeting of Shabbat Shalom.

Then all those present gather around the festive table, and the head of the household (or any person over the age of Bar Mitzvah) recites Kiddush over the wine as per the text in the prayer book. Everyone has in mind to fulfill their obligation by hearing it, and the one reciting Kiddush intends to fulfill their obligation as well. After Kiddush, they proceed to wash their hands and partake in the Shabbat meal.

Additionally, on Shabbat day, after the morning prayer, Kiddush is recited over the wine before the meal.

On Saturday night, after the evening prayer, we farewell Shabbat with Havdalah over the wine. Besides the blessing of Havdalah (Blessed... who separates between holy and mundane, etc.), we bless the flame of the candle (Blessed... who creates the lights of fire), as from now it is permissible to light fire (and also because the first fire was created on Saturday night by the man who was created on Friday.) and also over the spices (the spiritual pleasure from this world is the enjoyment of a pleasant scent. This pleasure exists in a completely different and intense way in Gan Eden. With the separation from the elevated spiritual experience of Shabbat, which is a taste of the world to come, we try to calm our souls that long for their spiritual root through a pleasant scent of spices).

Prohibitions of work on Shabbat: Thirty-nine primary categories of work are prohibited on Shabbat.

Among them, we will detail the common cases:

Sowing (which includes planting, seeding, etc., since the aim of all these is growth. Hence, watering, pruning for the sake of growth, etc., are included in this topic).

Reaping, meaning cutting something that is growing from its place of growth (which includes picking fruit, plucking leaves, sawing a trunk, or cutting a branch for any use, etc., since in all these cases, one cuts something from its place of growth).

Selecting: Separating waste from food in a work manner. (Definition of a work manner: for instance, separating waste from food, or using a designated tool for selection, or selecting not for the purpose of immediate use. However, one who separates food from waste and the action is done by hand (a fork, etc. is considered as a long hand, and it is permitted to separate food from waste through it) and separates for immediate use, this is not a selection done in a work manner but rather a manner of eating, and it is permitted on Shabbat. It is worth noting that even two kinds of food mixed together such as seeds and peanuts, if one is only interested in one of them at the moment, for him, this food is considered food and the other is waste, and consequently, the laws of selection mentioned above apply to him).

Grinding: Breaking grains or spices or anything that is from the plant through crushing (even in a non-electric mortar) or cutting. (Thus, finely chopping a vegetable or fruit is considered a grinding action. Therefore, one should not grate a fruit or vegetable on Shabbat).

Kneading: Combining food items in such a way that a dough is formed (thus, one must be careful on Shabbat of preparing certain salads made by mixing with mayonnaise, etc., not to fall into the prohibition of kneading. It is also noted that the prohibition of kneading applies to mixing dirt with water).

Cooking and baking: Placing uncooked food in a hot place where it will cook (and even when intending to remove it from there before it cooks, it is forbidden to place it there due to concern that he might forget to take it and it will cook).

It should also be noted that a boiling dish in a pot can cook even after it has been removed from the fire. Therefore, one may not season the food in the pot on Shabbat (since the seasoning is not cooked yet) or add to it water or any vegetables even if it is not on the fire, as long as it has not cooled down from being inedible. However, after the dish has been transferred to a plate or another container, it is defined as a second vessel, and a second vessel does not cook. (Besides certain specific items that cook easily and cook even in a second vessel, such as eggs and tea leaves that were not cooked before Shabbat. Therefore, preparing tea on Shabbat from tea leaves that were not cooked before Shabbat is only permitted in a third vessel. And if they are not loose but contained in a tea bag, it is possible to be lenient even in a second vessel, provided that he does not pour the boiling water from the urn directly onto the tea bag, but rather pours the water into a cup, and only afterwards puts the tea bag into it. This is because the tea bag itself serves in this regard as an additional container. And with the combination of the hot water being in a second vessel, the leaves do not cook).

A dish that has already been cooked before Shabbat and is not liquid (such as meatballs, rice, etc.) may be heated on Shabbat (on a hot plate that was connected to electricity before Shabbat or on a pot that is on the fire from before Shabbat. But placing any dish on an open flame, even if it was burning before Shabbat, is prohibited). This is because it is not cooking but merely reheating. However, a liquid dish (such as sauce, soup, etc.) even though it was already cooked before Shabbat, it should not be reheated on Shabbat since returning a liquid to heat means it is being cooked anew. Cooking and frying on top of a hot plate or pan that has heated in the sun is prohibited.

Washing dishes and washing hands and face in water heated by a solar water heater is permitted. However, if heated by electricity, it is forbidden to use it on Shabbat even though it was heated on Friday and the electricity is now off.

The reason for the prohibition is that by opening the faucet at home, cold water is flowing into the boiling water, causing the cold to cook in the hot.

Washing or even soaking a garment in water (in whole or in part) and any cleaning action (such as wringing out a garment - even if it was soaked before Shabbat or removing oily stains with salt, talc, etc.) is prohibited. Therefore, care should be taken not to wash a wet cloth before or after wiping the table. It is advisable to use a disposable plastic tablecloth on Shabbat that is thrown away after use or to wipe the table with a squeegee whose bottom is made of hard rubber that cannot be wrung out, etc.

Squeezing fruits: Squeezing fruits such as grapes and any fruit that is typically juiced (however, fruits that are not typically juiced, such as cucumbers, etrog, etc., and someone wants to squeeze them for some reason, it is permitted to squeeze them. Squeezing onto food such as rice or salad, where the juice is absorbed in the food and does not float on top, is permitted.

Catching: Trapping a living creature by physically capturing it by hand or enclosing it in a cage or room after it has entered there by itself. (Thus, trapping a fly or similar in a bottle or cup is prohibited. Certainly, it is forbidden to trap animals that are typically trapped for a specific purpose).

Slaughtering: Taking the life of any living creature. ( - even if it kills without shedding blood. Therefore, it is forbidden to spray mosquitoes and various insects or to kill them in any other way. However, it is permitted to spray in the air of a room with an open window, as long as he is not spraying at the mosquitoes themselves, but rather causing them to flee). This prohibition also includes drawing blood from a living creature, even if it does not kill it.

Dyeing: Dyeing wool, clothing, a house, a piece of furniture, a painting, an illustration, etc.

Writing: Even writing on dust and vapors on glass, or dipping a finger in water and writing on the table is prohibited. Certainly, it is forbidden to write with something that is permanent (such as ink) on something that is also permanent (such as paper). However, one who writes with his finger in the air is permitted. It is also permitted to walk on sand or snow even though there is a picture or writing left in the sole of his shoe, and by his walking, the picture or writing is created on the sand or snow, provided he does not intend for that to happen).

Erasing. (As above in writing).

Building. (Any action of fixing in the house, even hammering a nail in the wall is forbidden on Shabbat).

Demolishing. (Breaking and demolishing a wall or even a small stone from his home. Even demolishing for the sake of spoilage is prohibited on Shabbat. Certainly, when demolishing for the sake of fixing such as to build a new wall. This is considered real work).

Sewing. (This also includes gluing. The essence of sewing and the essence of gluing are one and the same - joining two parts through a third factor).

Tearing: Tearing is prohibited on Shabbat whether one tears in a seam or a glued area or whether one tears the fabric or paper itself. (Therefore, remember to prepare toilet paper cut before Shabbat).

Transferring from one domain to another. Transferring any object from a private domain to a public domain or vice versa. (And today, in most cities and settlements in the land, there is an eruv (a line stretched on top of poles around the city) that makes the city one domain. However, some are strict not to rely on this eruv, and only permit when there is a fence or wall surrounding the city).

As stated, what is presented here is just a summary of the laws of Shabbat. Those wishing to properly enrich their halachic knowledge are welcome to participate in the halacha classes occurring in their area. They will surely be received warmly and happily. For any halachic doubt, one may inquire on this website, and we will gladly respond promptly. It is also worth noting that after the initial difficulty of adapting, as is often the case when starting anything new, once the brain and thought processes become accustomed to the fact that on Shabbat, no discussions occur regarding financial matters or business, at the entrance of Shabbat, one enters a state of elevated calm and tranquility that is not understood by those who have not experienced it, as he is untroubled by anything until after Shabbat - as if all his business is arranged and completed.

Then, in the new week following Shabbat, he approaches with a clear mind and fresh energy to deal with his affairs. This is the secret of the royal atmosphere that is bestowed upon the one who keeps Shabbat completely, to the point where it is impossible to recognize that this person is the same one who works during the weekdays for his livelihood with great toil and effort.

With utmost respect and wishing you well - Menashe Israel