112: Shabbat Melakha (labor)

(2) The [number of] principal Melakhot is forty minus one. [The forbidden Melakhot are]: Sowing, plowing, reaping, binding sheaves, threshing, winnowing, sorting, grinding, sifting, kneading, baking, shearing wool, whitening it, combing it, dyeing it, spinning, weaving, making two loops, weaving two threads, separating two threads, tying [a knot], untying [a knot], sewing two stitches, tearing for the purpose of sewing two stitches, hunting a deer, slaughtering it, skinning it, salting it, curing its hide, scraping it, cutting it, writing two letters, erasing for the purpose of writing two letters, building, demolishing, extinguishing a flame, lighting a flame, striking with a hammer, carrying from one domain to another. These are the principal Melakhot - [they number] forty minus one.

(5) ... When Ben Zoma saw large crowds [of people] on the Temple Mount he said, “Blessed be the One who created all of these [people] to serve me. How much the first man toiled before he tasted [even] one mouthful? He planted [grain], ploughed, reaped, bound sheaves, threshed, winnowed, selected, ground, sifted, kneaded, and baked, and [only] after that [he] ate [bread]. And I stand up in the morning and I find all of these [foods] in front of me [already prepared].” How much the first man toiled before he wore a shirt? He sheared [wool], washed, combed, dyed, spun, wove, and sewed, and [only] after that he wore [clothes]. And I stand up in the morning and I find all of these [clothes] in front of me [already made]. How many skilled laborers are anxious to wake up [early to sell their goods], and I stand up in the morning and I find all of these [goods] in front of me [already made].”...