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    Chapter 1 · Intro & principles

    Zakhor and Shamor - the two sides of the obligation

    Lesson 2 of 28 18 min

    "Zakhor and Shamor were said in one utterance" (Shevuot 20b). The positive command and the prohibition are two faces of the same Shabbat - yet each has entirely different halakhic rules.

    Lesson goals
    • 01Map the positive commandments: kiddush, havdalah, oneg, kavod
    • 02Map the prohibitions: 39 melakhot, shvutim
    • 03Understand why women are obligated in both (Berakhot 20b)
    01

    The Structure of Shabbat: Zakhor and Shamor

    Welcome to our journey into the depths of Shabbat! We begin by building solid foundations for understanding this central mitzvah. Shabbat is not merely a day of rest; it is a day of holiness, rich with commandments and prohibitions. The key to understanding it lies in the foundational phrase: 'Zakhor and Shamor'.

    שבועות כ ע"ב
    זָכוֹר וְשָׁמוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד נֶאֶמְרוּ

    Zakhor and Shamor were said in one utterance.

    Insight

    The words 'Zakhor' and 'Shamor' appear in the two versions of the Ten Commandments. 'Zakhor' at the beginning of Parashat Yitro, and 'Shamor' at the beginning of Parashat Va'etchanan. Our Sages teach us that God uttered both simultaneously – even though they are commandments of entirely different types. This is a cornerstone of Shabbat law.

    The 'Zakhor' commands us to actively remember Shabbat, to sanctify it. The 'Shamor' commands us to guard its holiness by refraining from certain actions. We will now decode the essential differences between them.

    02

    Zakhor: The Positive Commandments of Shabbat

    The 'Zakhor' commandments are positive mitzvot, meaning actions we are commanded to perform to enhance Shabbat and sanctify it. These are the actions that 'build' the positive and uplifting Shabbat experience.

    1. 1Kiddush: To sanctify the day over wine at the entry of Shabbat.
    2. 2Havdalah: To distinguish between the holy and the mundane at the conclusion of Shabbat.
    3. 3Oneg Shabbat: To eat, drink, and enjoy Shabbat.
    4. 4Kavod Shabbat: To dress nicely, prepare special foods in honor of Shabbat.
    Insight

    These are just prominent examples. There are additional positive commandments that contribute to 'Zakhor' Shabbat, such as Torah study on Shabbat, special prayers, and more. All are designed to elevate the sanctity of the day.

    03

    Shamor: The Prohibitions of Shabbat

    The 'Shamor' commandments are prohibitions, meaning actions we are forbidden to perform on Shabbat. They constitute the 'boundaries' that guard Shabbat's holiness from desecration. This is the mechanism that protects the unique character of the day.

    1. 139 Melakhot: 39 primary categories of labor and all their derivatives, which are creative activities necessary for the construction of the Tabernacle.
    2. 2Shvutim: Rabbinic prohibitions (from the Sages) designed to distance a person from Shabbat desecration or to preserve the Shabbat atmosphere.
    3. 3Muktzah: Objects forbidden to be moved on Shabbat because they were not designated for use on Shabbat or have the potential for Shabbat desecration.
    Insight

    The distinction between De'Oraita (Torah-based) prohibitions and De'Rabbanan (Rabbinic) prohibitions is critical for understanding Shabbat laws. The 'Melakhot' are De'Oraita, while 'Shvutim' and 'Muktzah' are De'Rabbanan, yet their stringency and adherence are great.

    04

    Women's Obligation on Shabbat: Equality and Halakha

    One of the interesting and important issues in Halakha is women's obligation in mitzvot. Generally, women are exempt from time-bound positive mitzvot. So how does this align with the 'Zakhor' commandments on Shabbat?

    ברכות כ ע"ב
    נשים חייבות בקידוש והבדלה... מאי טעמא? אמר רבי ירמיה: הואיל ואף הן היו באותו הנס.

    Women are obligated in Kiddush and Havdalah... What is the reason? Rabbi Yirmiyah said: Because they too were part of that miracle.

    Insight

    The Gemara in Berakhot 20b rules that women are also obligated in the positive commandments of Kiddush and Havdalah, even though they are time-bound positive mitzvot. The reason given is 'because they too were part of that miracle' – they were partners in the Exodus from Egypt and the revelation at Mount Sinai. Another halakhic principle states: 'Anyone obligated in guarding (Shamor) is also obligated in remembering (Zakhor).' Since women are obligated in Shabbat prohibitions (Shamor), they are also obligated in the positive commandments (Zakhor).

    This understanding emphasizes the full equality of women in the mitzvot of Shabbat, both in positive actions and in refraining from the forbidden. Shabbat is the heritage of all, in all its layers.

    Practice

    Build a two-column table: 4 positive duties on one side, 4 prohibitions on the other.

    Lesson wrap-up

    Shabbat is built from action and abstention together. Lose one side - lose the whole.

    Check your understanding

    Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.

    Question 1 of 4

    What is the essential difference between 'Zakhor' and 'Shamor' in Shabbat Halakha?

    Previous lessonSource of obligation - Shabbat in the Torah and Chazal
    Next lessonThe 39 melakhot - from the Mishkan to Shabbat 73a