1. Write down the Hebrew name and the Principles (not the Toldah examples) of the following Melachot:

a. Writing
b. Erasing
c. Building
d. Demolishing
e. Burning (and list 2 examples of Toldot)
f. Extinguishing

2. Is it permitted to professionally decorate a cake or salad on Shabbos? Describe the case you are referring to.

3. Is it permitted to weigh food on Shabbos? Why or why not?

4. Why is it prohibited to conduct business on Shabbos?

5. If one is cutting through writing on a bag in order to get the food contents out, is this Chayav, Patur or Mutar -- and why?

6. How is one allowed to open up a window, if the handle fell off -- and why? 7. Is it permitted to set up a folding bed on Shabbos, in a place where it is covering up a pile of clothing? Why or why not? If yes, how?

8. Is it permitted to open a soda bottle on Shabbos? What are the problems? If yes, how?

9. What problems (i.e. which Melachot) are involved with turning on the following appliances? Note if it is a Torah or Rabbinic , and why.

a. light bulb
b. florescent light
c. heater
d. fan
e. digital watch

10. What can one do (in a case where there is no life- or physical danger whatsoever), when one's candle fell over or one's tablecloth caught fire. Describe the best thing to do, next best, etc, and note what one may not do.

11. What is one allowed to remove from one's private home, if another side of the building is on fire?

ANSWERS

1. a. Writing - Kosef: Creating an image that communicates/conveys a message.

b. Erasing - Mochek: Erasing "writing" for the sake of new writing.

c. Building - Boneh: Building or fixing a permanent structure, shelter (Ohel), Mechitza, vessel.

d. Demolishing - Soter: Demolishing a "building" for the sake of building anew.

e. Burning - Mav'ir: Enlarging a fire or creating a "useful spark."

f. Extinguishing - Mechabeh: Extinguishing or lowering any fire for a constructive purpose.

2. Yes, but only if one doesn't write out something or create some exact shape.

3. No, except for the sake of a mitzvah. The Rabbis prohibited it as a Gezeira for writing.

4. Because one may come to write on Shabbos.

5. This is Patur (aval Assur), because a Torah prohibition of erasing is only if a surface for new writing is left behind. It is not permitted because this in fact destroys writing, which is prohibited as a Melacha Sh'eino Tzericha l'Gufo.

6. Only by using something that one would never leave there permanently, eg. the broken handle, a pair of pliers, or a screw driver. If one uses something that could be affixed there permanently, it would be Assur as a Gezeira for Boneh.

7. If the bed is only set up to sleep on, and not (also) to cover up the clothing (for any reason), it may be set up.

If, however, it is also placed to cover up the clothing as a secondary function to guard the clothes against dust or sight, then the bed may only be set up by holding the bed in a position horizontal above its intended spot, and then pulling the legs out. This in order to make a Shinui in the setting up of a half-shelter. 8. Yes, but only in a case where the cap was made before it was put on the bottle, and one doesn't have to change anything in the cap to make it usable. Otherwise one may not open it up, because this is considered creating a (good) bottle cap by breaking through a seal-ring which is part of the cap (under the Melacha of Boneh). If the bottle was not opened before Shabbos, one has to first puncture the top, after which it becomes permissible to "create" such a "damaged" vessel. 9. a. Light bulb: This is a problem of a Torah Melacha of making a fire or cooking the filament, and a Rabbinic prohibition of making a spark without use (when turning on the current).

b. Florescent light: Torah Melacha of a spark with use (to ignite the gas), and a Rabbinic prohibition of making a spark without use.

c. Heater: Torah Melacha of making a fire or cooking the wires, and a Rabbinic prohibition of making a spark without use.

d. Fan: Rabbinic prohibition of making a spark [without use], and possibly a Rabbinic prohibition of making an object functional.

e. Digital watch: Rabbinic prohibitions of: making a spark [without use], writing in a non permanent fashion, and (possibly) making an object functional.

10. The options in order of preference:

a. When a non-Jew is around, ask him to move the fire to a place it won't do more damage.

b. If this is not possible, one may move it oneself to such a place.

If the case is in order to save a major financial loss, one may:

c. Ask a non-Jew directly to put out the fire.

d. Move Muktza.

In case of a minor financial loss:

e. One may hint to a non-Jew to put it out.

f. One may try to put it out indirectly.

g. To put it out directly is always prohibited for a Jew.

11. A Jew may only carry the following to a place where one may carry to under normal circumstances (i.e. when there is an Eiruv etc).

- Food for the remaining Shabbos meals (and their necessary vessels)
- Torah books (which one may even ask a non-Jew to carry into the street even where there there is no Eiruv), and

Clothing, when worn, may be "carried" to any place.

It is prohibited to carry anything else.