Halachah 1 — Removing Bread from an Oven
Although removing bread from an oven is not itself a forbidden labor, the Sages prohibited it because it resembles baking. However, if bread was placed in the oven before Shabbat, one may remove enough for three meals.
This removal should be done in an unusual manner (e.g., with a knife rather than a peel) to show it is not ordinary baking activity.
Halachah 2 — Bathhouses and Hot Water
The Sages prohibited entering bathhouses on Shabbat because attendants might secretly heat water on Shabbat. Therefore:
- One may not bathe the entire body even with water heated before Shabbat.
- One may wash only face, hands, and feet.
Exception:
- Natural hot springs (e.g., Tiberias) → permitted
- Cave hot springs → forbidden (because they resemble bathhouse steam)
Halachah 3 — Warming After and Before Washing
Permitted:
- Warm yourself first → then wash with cold water
Forbidden:
- Wash first → then warm yourself
→ because water will become heated on the body
Halachah 4 — Warming Water and Oil
One may warm water or oil slightly, but not to cooking temperatures.
Permitted:
- placing water near fire to remove chill
- warming cloth or oil gently
Forbidden:
- heating to the degree usable for cooking
Halachah 5–6 — Mixing Hot and Cold Water
Forbidden:
- placing cold water into hot bathwater
Permitted:
- placing hot water into cold
- adding cold water to an emptied cooking vessel
Also:
- spices may not be added to hot food from a primary pot
- but may be added after transferring to another vessel
Halachah 7 — Medicinal Soaking (Chiltit)
Medicinal soaking (like chiltit) is generally forbidden, but allowed:
- if already established as regular treatment before Shabbat
- to prevent illness
Halachah 8 — Reheating Previously Cooked Food
Food that was cooked or soaked before Shabbat may be reheated or resoaked.
Forbidden:
- first-time soaking if it completes the cooking process
Halachah 9 — Sun Heat vs Fire Heat
Permitted:
- heating in direct sunlight
Forbidden:
- heating via objects warmed by the sun (Rabbinic decree)
Also permitted:
- cooling food in water
- preserving food in a cistern
Halachah 10 — Mixing Foods and Pickling
Permitted:
- small mixtures (e.g., salt, oil, water)
Forbidden:
- large mixtures → resembles cooking
- strong brine → resembles food preparation
- salting foods like radishes → resembles pickling
Halachah 11–12 — Food Mixing and Preparation
Permitted:
- mixing edible combinations (wine, honey, spices)
Forbidden:
- mixtures not normally eaten by healthy people
Previously prepared foods:
- may be mixed gently
- but not stirred vigorously like weekday practice
Halachah 13 — Hair Removal and Cleaning
Removing hair is like shearing → forbidden.
Therefore:
- one should not use substances that certainly remove hair
- but may use ones that might remove hair unintentionally
Halachah 14 — Mirrors
Forbidden:
- using a metal mirror → may lead to removing hair
Permitted:
- non-metal mirrors
Halachah 15–16 — Laundering and Cleaning
Forbidden:
- squeezing wet cloths (laundering)
- using sponges without handles
When liquids spill:
- may collect carefully
- must avoid squeezing
Halachah 17–19 — Cleaning Garments and Shoes
Permitted:
- removing dirt gently
- wiping inside of garment
Forbidden:
- laundering-like actions
- cleaning in a way that resembles washing
Shoes:
- may be cleaned with water
- but not washed fully
Halachah 20 — Drying Clothes
Permitted:
- walking in wet clothes
Forbidden:
- hanging garments to dry → creates misleading appearance
Halachah 21 — Plugging Drains
Permitted:
- plugging to stop flooding
Forbidden:
- plugging where squeezing might occur
Halachah 22 — Folding Clothes
Forbidden:
- folding garments in normal way
Permitted:
- folding for use if no alternative clothing
Conditions:
- one person only
- new white garments
Halachah 23 — Dyeing and Sewing Activities
Forbidden:
- applying makeup → resembles dyeing
- stuffing new pillows → resembles sewing
Permitted:
- refilling stuffing that fell out
Halachah 24 — Tearing
Permitted:
- careful removal of garments from thorns
Even if tearing occurs:
- not liable (unintentional)
Halachah 25 — Doors and Utensils
Forbidden:
- removing or replacing attached doors
Permitted:
- removing utensil doors
- not reattaching them fully
Halachah 26 — Hair Styling and Assembly
Forbidden:
- braiding hair
- assembling objects (like lamps, furniture)
Permitted:
- loose adjustments
Halachah 27–29 — Tents
Forbidden:
- creating a tent structure
Permitted:
- adding to an existing temporary tent
- expanding pre-started coverings
Temporary structures:
- allowed only in limited, indirect ways
Halachah 30–32 — Curtains and Coverings
Permitted:
- curtains if prepared beforehand
- covering objects partially
Forbidden:
- creating full coverings that resemble tents
Halachah 33 — Avoiding Tent Formation During Actions
Care must be taken:
- not to create a “tent” while covering or filtering
Even small actions may unintentionally create a temporary enclosure.