FROM BLUFFTON SUN FEBRUARY 2014
Shalom and Peace:
Today we will continue our discussion of the Sabbath using Mark 2:27's: ''The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'' And the Talmud's oral tradition, at least 500 years prior to Mark, in Yoma 85b, stating: "The Sabbath is committed to your hands, not you to its hands.''
Exodus 31: 15-17 reads: '' Six days you may perform 'melachah', but the seventh day is Sabbath. ''
We must understand what Shabbat and 'melachah' mean. "Shabbat" comes from the Hebrew root word, meaning to cease, end, or rest.
The Torah does not prohibit "work" in the English sense of the word. It prohibits "melachah ", translated as "work," but does not mean precisely the same thing. "Work" in English means physical labor, effort, or employment.
Using this English definition, turning on a light is permitted, because it does not require effort. A rabbi wouldn't be permitted to lead Shabbat services, because that is his employment. Jewish law prohibits the former and permits the latter. Many conclude that Jewish law doesn't make sense.
Melachah refers creative work, or changing our environment. The greatest example of melachah is creating the universe, which God ceased from on the seventh day. God's work did not require great physical effort: He spoke, and it was done.
'Melachah' is rarely used in the Torah outside of the context of Shabbat and Holy Day restrictions. The only other repeated use of the word is in the discussion of the building of the sanctuary in the wilderness. [Ex: 31, 35-38].The sages concluded that the 'work' prohibited on Shabbat is the same as the work of creating the sanctuary and they list 39 categories of forbidden acts. The rabbis added the prohibitions of travel, buying and selling. While these are not melachah, they can lead to melachah . They also made a category called "muktzeh" [set aside objects].
Muktzeh are things that if used could lead to melachah . Since writing or erasing are melachahs, we can't carry pencils, pens or erasers, as we may forget and use them on Shabbat.
We can't talk about money or business, or carry money, as this could lead to the action of buying or selling or perhaps recording a sale (writing) which are melachahs. While it seems like legalistic minutia, following these rules allows one to truly have a spiritual Shabbat.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com .
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
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