Daily Mitzvah

The 320th prohibition is that we are forbidden to do melachah1 on Shabbos.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2, ["It is Shabbos to the L‑rd, your G‑d;] do not do any melachah."

If the act was intentional, but the court has insufficient proof, Scripture3 specifies the punishment as kares.4 If the act was intentional, and there is sufficient proof,5 the punishment is execution by s'kilah.6 If the act was unintentional, he must bring a sin-offering.7

The details of this commandment are discussed in the tractate Shabbos.

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Although melachah is commonly translated as "work," it actually indicates any one of 39 specific activities singled out by Torah tradition. Included among the 39 are such actions as writing, carrying outside, and tying a knot, even though they do not correspond to the English word "work."

2.

Shmos 20:1. Devarim 5:14.

3.

Ex. 31:14.

4.

See Principle 14, where the Rambam defines kares as losing one's portion in the World to Come (unless the person does teshuvah before death). See also Hilchos Teshuvah, Chapter 8, Halachah 1.

5.

Literally, "the testimony was accepted." This phrase includes such requirements as prior warning of the defendant (hasra'a), testimony of at least 2 witnesses, etc. See N352.

6.

Commonly translated as "stoning," it actually consisted of being thrown from a high platform. Only if the person did not die from the fall were actual stones used. See P229.

7.

See P69. This offering is called a "fixed sin-offering" to distinguish it from the offering of adjustable value. See P72.