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Shabbat 67 articles

Jewish Holidays

Melacha #26 – Shocheit (Slaughtering)
Melacha #26 – Shocheit (Slaughtering)
After capturing the animal, the next step in preparing the hides was to slaughter it. This is the melacha of shocheit. Practically speaking, shocheit includes killing a creature, even without causing...
Oct 3, 2018
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Melacha #25 – Tzod (Trapping)
Melacha #25 – Tzod (Trapping)
The next seven melachos involve the hides that were used in the coverings of the Mishkan. The first step in getting these hides was trapping the animal. This is the melacha...
Feb 1, 2018
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Melacha #24 – Korei’ah (Tearing)
Melacha #24 – Korei’ah (Tearing)
As mentioned in the previous melacha, the Mishkan was draped with coverings composed of several panels sewn together. Repairing these coverings required tearing the damaged area so that it might be...
Dec 21, 2017
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Melacha #23 – Tofeir (Sewing)
Melacha #23 – Tofeir (Sewing)
The Mishkan was draped with a series of coverings. The coverings were made of individual panels that were sewn together into two large tapestries that were then joined by clasps. Connecting...
Oct 16, 2017
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Melacha #22 – Matir (Untying)
Melacha #22 – Matir (Untying)
The nets that were tied, as described in the previous melacha, sometimes had to be untied. This is matir (untying), the reciprocal melacha of kosheir (tying). When a melacha has a...
Jun 2, 2017
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Melacha #21 – Kosheir (Tying)
Melacha #21 – Kosheir (Tying)
Taking two threads – or two ends of the same thread –- and tying them together in a knot is the melacha of kosheir. The Talmud in tractate Shabbos (74b) discusses...
Nov 1, 2016
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Melacha #20 – Potzei’ah (Detaching from the loom)
Melacha #20 – Potzei’ah (Detaching from the loom)
In the past several melachos, we stretched our vertical warp threads on the frame, set the heddles, and wove our cloth. The final stage of the weaving process is potzei’ah, detaching...
Jun 22, 2016
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
39 Melachot: Melacha #19 – Oreig (Weaving)
39 Melachot: Melacha #19 – Oreig (Weaving)
We have threaded the warp with the vertical threads (see Melacha #17) and set the heddles to raise and lower these threads in succession (see Melacha #18). Our loom is now...
Feb 8, 2016
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
39 Melachot: Melacha #18 – Oseh Batei Nirin (Setting the Heddles)
39 Melachot: Melacha #18 – Oseh Batei Nirin (Setting...
After the warp threads have been stretched on the frame, the heddles have to be set. The heddles are the part of the loom, typically made of wire, that separate the...
Jan 19, 2016
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
39 Melachot: Melacha #17 – Maisach (Threading a Warp)
39 Melachot: Melacha #17 – Maisach (Threading a Warp)
We now enter the first of several melachos pertaining to the weaving process. There are several prerequisites that one must accomplish before sitting down to weave. The first is threading the...
Nov 12, 2015
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz

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