Definition of מלאכה

Parshat כי תשא is the source for the important laws of Shabbat, connected with the 39 מלאכות. After Parshat תרומה and תצוה, that gives instructions as to how to build the Mishkan and the Priestly Garments, we continue further instructions in כי תשא.

After learning of the incense used in the Temple, we suddenly have the Pasuk, אך את שבתותי תשמורו, “But you shall observe My Shabbat.” From here we learn two things. The first is that the construction of the Mishkan may not be done on Shabbat. And the second point is that all thirty-nine of those activities, called מלאכה, that applied to the construction of the Mishkan, are not permitted on Shabbat.

The word, מלאכה, is generally translated as “work.” This is a poor definition as it makes one think that the extent of the exertion is what is forbidden on Shabbat.

An excellent definition of מלאכה was given by Dayan Grunfeld, in his book, “The Sabbath.” He defines מלאכה as, “Any act that shows man’s mastery over the universe is a מלאכה.” It has to do more with creativity than exertion.

And the source for these forbidden מלאכות is Shmot 31:13.