Rabbinically prohibited activities of Shabbat

During Shabbat, the Oral Torah directly prohibits thirty-nine activities. Some additional activities, such as driving, are disallowed because they involve violating one or more of these restrictions. But rabbinical authorities, especially those recorded in the Talmud, have gone beyond these thirty-nine activities and decreed additional prohibitions because they either are not in the spirit of Shabbat, closely resemble a restricted activity, or else are at a very high risk of causing one to violate the Shabbat. In some cases, the activity is banned because it is likely to be breaking Shabbat, but authorities are uncertain. In particular, the Orthodox movement is careful about following such restrictions.

Muktzah

Certain items may not be touched, moved or eaten on Shabbat because they are classified as Muktzah (off-limits). Reasons for items being considered muktzah include their main use being a violation of Shabbat, the act of moving them risking a Shabbat violation, or if they were produced during Shabbat in violation of Shabbat.

Money

Though the use of money on Shabbat is not directly forbidden in the Torah, its use has long been condemned by the sages. Money is the very matter of business, and conducting or even discussing business on Shabbat is a rabbincally prohibited act. Additionally, many business transactions are customarily recorded on paper, and writing is one of the thirty-nine prohibited activities on Shabbat [To Be a Jew, "A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life", Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin, Ó 1972, 1991 Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-0863-2, pages 92-95] .

Electricity

References