Why is it that Jews can't touch matches or electrical outlets during religious holidays?

I have a Jewish neighbor that always ask me to light matches for her during certain Jewish holidays; she says it because she's not allowed to touch them during these holidays. So, I'm wondering what the reason for this is. Thanks.

skepsis2011-10-07T17:02:43Z

The rabbinical tradition of Torah interpretation has parsed all human activities into basic categories. According to the logic, striking matches is equivalent to trying to draw sparks and fire from flint and tinder, which can take some work to do. (Completing an electrical circuit breaks down the same way.) But working on the Sabbath is forbidden. Things like eating or walking short distances is not work, but more than that is considered forbidden. So an observant Jew must either make preparations beforehand, ask a kind gentile to help, or go without when something classified as work needs doing on the Sabbath.

Michael K2011-10-07T16:39:09Z

Because creating a fire is amount to doing work which is forbidden during the Sabbath. However, that only goes to the really religious Jews. Most don't follow such a law.

Anonymous2011-10-07T16:31:30Z

I'm not Jewish, but I know that Jews are not supposed to do anything like work during the holidays or the Sabbath, if they are very observant. The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest.

great gig in the sky2011-10-07T16:30:39Z

Certain rabbinical rulings have maintained that lighting a match is work and so is turning on a stove. This is why they get you to do it as not to break the sabbath.

Anonymous2011-10-07T16:35:16Z

There's lists of stuff they can't do on Friday and on religious holidays.
I had customers who would tear up their sheets of toilet paper ahead of time, so they didn't have to do it (work) during the holy time. If that sounds kinda nutty that's because it is.

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