There are 39 categories of "work"(Hebrew: melachot) which one is prohibited from doing on the Sabbath. The 39 categories do not represent the amount of exertion required, but rather the act and effort of creating something. The Hebrew word for "work" in the context of Shabbat is not the same word for "work" elsewhere in the Torah. When G-d ceased from His "work" on the first Sabbath, G-d did not grow tired or cease from all exertion, instead, He only ceased creating. When we cease acts associated with human creations, we are proclaiming and bearing true testimony to the world that G-d is the ultimate Creator.
The reason for the 39 categories comes from the Torah itself, thought the torah does not explicitly say "these 39 activities are prohibited to you on Shabbat," the Torah does remind the people of Israel to Keep the Shabbat holy immediately after giving the instructions to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The instructions begin in Exodus 25 and run all the way to Exodus 31:12, and then in verse 13 we read:
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. (Exodus 31:13 ESV)
This strange reminder, a seemingly needless repetition of the command stood out to the sages, especially the opening words "above all." The Torah never wastes words or repeats without reason, so this must mean something important. The sages concluded that this reminder was needed because any activity related to the building of the Tabernacle was not to be performed on the Shabbat. That even for something as incredibly important as THE Tabernacle where G-d would reside and dwell among His people, is not more important than the Shabbat, and you should not forsake the Shabbat even for the sake of the Tabernacle! (b.Shabbat 70a & 49b)
Therefore the definition of "work" (Melachot) is hinted at in the instructions to build the Tabernacle. Surely if one is prohibited from engaging in these activities on Shabbat even for the sake of the Tabernacle, then these activities are prohibited on Shabbat in general.
Many volumes have been dedicated to these individual actions of Melachot, so much so that my personal favorite resource is a 4 volume set called "The 39 Melachos" by Rabbi Dovid Ribiat, Which is an exhaustive resource tackling almost any scenario on Shabbat. (Click this link to purchase The 39 Melochos book set)
For now, we will only briefly go over the list to familiarize you with the 39 as a whole and provide a few common examples for clarity. This will, by no means, be a complete and exhaustive list with every possible application listed with their sources and explanations.
Do not let this list scare you. It may seem like a lot to those of us who have not grown up in this life style, and to others this list may seem "overly legalistic", but let me assure you, like anything else it takes some practice. But in the end I believe you will find that the Shabbat feels far more separated/holy from the other days of the week as a result.
These prohibitions are not that difficult, and in large part the biggest changes one has to make are against cooking and technology use, which in my opinion is the most healthy prohibition in our overly connected world. Being purpose driven by Shabbat to unplug from the world for 24 hours per week is bound to do wonders for your mental health, and really allow your soul battery to truly recharge and rest on Shabbat.
If you are brand new to this practice, consider taking this list very slowly and one thing at a time. There is no need to suddenly make massive changes which would impede your rest and enjoyment of the Shabbat. The Shabbat is meant to be a joyful experience, not a burden or a drag you do not look forward to every week because of its "many rules."
Observing the Shabbat properly is important. It means we affirm a 6 day creation, and that we believe our lives belong to G-d, and that we serve Him only and not our own self interests. It's a sign that we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, not of the world, and it is a clear indicator that we believe in G-d's promises and chose to live in covenant relationship with HaShem. Observing Shabbat properly is important, but it's not the goal. Never forget that the goal is to grow closer to HaShem and to partake in His rest with joy as we get a taste of The World to Come, where we will one day sing "it's Shabbat now" for eternity.
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Field Work
Making Material Curtains
Making Leather Curtains
Making Mishkan Beams
Putting Up & Taking Down the Mishkan
Final Touches of the Mishkan
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