Chapter 37 - SPECIFIC TYPES OF WORK

Combustible materials may be used for fuel only if there was prior intent to use them on the holiday; see 501:1-7. Fuel may be prepared (see 514:4-5,8-10) and lit from an existing fire, but a new fire must not be started or a fire extinguished (see 502:1;514:1), and fuel must not be taken from a fire (see 502:2;514:2). On indirectly extinguishing a fire see 514:3; on the remains of a fire see 514:4. Wood should not be used for purposes other than fuel; see 502:3 and 507:3. Fires may be lit even for heating purposes (511:1), but not for no reason (514:5). Water may be heated for washing, but not for bathing (511:2); however, ritual immersion is permitted (see 509:7;511:3). Using incense is forbidden except to improve the odor of food; see 511:4.

Objects that can be used (see 516:3;518:1), and materials that can be used for food preparation (see 516:1), may be moved from one domain to another, even if this could have been done before the holiday (see 504:2); but animals must not be used to carry loads (495:3;510:10), large amounts should be carried only in a nonstandard way (510:8-11;516:2;521:1), and unnecessary things should not be carried (see 522:1-4). The laws of the Sabbath boundary apply on holidays (528:1).

Animals may be taken and slaughtered if they do not require capture (497:1,3-9,15), provided there was prior intent to take them on the holiday (see 497:10-14;498:3-5). Captured animals may be fed (see 497:2,7;512:3) and cared for (see 523:1,3-4), but not curried (523:2). A slaughtered animal may be skinned (see 497:16;498:6;499:1), but the skin or other inedible parts must not be processed (see 499:2-4). On preparations for slaughter see 498:1-2,10-13; on animals that require inspection see 498:5-6,8-9; on giving parts of a slaughtered animal to a KOHEN see 506:9. On transporting a slaughtered animal see 498:7; on covering its blood see 498:14-20. Meat may be cut (see 499:5), cleaned (see 500:4,6), and salted (500:5). On buying, selling, weighing, and marking meat see 497:17 and 500:1-3. Milking is permitted only if the milk is mixed directly with food; see 505:1. Curdling milk and making butter or cheese are forbidden (510:5).

Grinding and sifting flour are forbidden (see 495:1;506:2), and leaven should be made only in a nonstandard way (506:8). Spices or other foods should be ground in a nonstandard way, or should be ground before the holiday if this does not affect their taste (504:1,3). Liquids should be strained in a nonstandard way; see 510:3-4. Separating inedible matter from food should be done only in a nonstandard way; see 510:1-2,6-7. Kneading dough and baking are permitted (see 506:5-7); on separating the dough-offering see 506:3-4. Kneading inedible substances is forbidden, but loose pastes may be made and used to seal cooking utensils; see 507:7 and 512:3. Cooking even of large quantities is permitted; see 507:1,6. Cooking directly on a fire is permitted even if this causes parts of the fire to be extinguished (507:4), and a fire may also be extinguished to keep food from burning (see 514:1). Cleaning out an oven for cooking purposes is permitted (see 507:4-5). On salting food see 510:7.

Constructions should be made only in a nonstandard way; see 502:1. On doors and shutters see 519:1; on breaking open a container see 519:3; on sweeping see 520:1. Making or fixing utensils, even for use in food preparation, is forbidden (see 502:4;507:5;508:1;509:1-2,5-7;514:7-10; 519:2,4-5); on cleaning utensils see 509:7. On tearing and cutting see 508:2;509:4;526:11; on sewing see 509:3. It is forbidden to climb or use a tree (see 514:6), ride an animal, swim, dance, marry or divorce (except on a deathbed; 524:2), judge, sanctify, or set aside offerings (524:1). On acquiring things from a Jew see 517:3; on loans and charity collection see 525:1-2; on measuring see 504:4;506:1;517:4.

Shulchan Aruch, Copyright (c) 2000 Project Genesis, Inc.