Book on the laws of Shabbos

Question

Which English book on the laws of Shabbos would you recommend?

One that is Halacha Lemaase with footnotes that show where the Halacha stems from and the differentiating opinions.

Answer 1

There are multiple options depending on how much of a reference book you are searching for vs. something which is readable cover-to-cover to rehearse.

• The 39 melochos is an amazing reference work but it is very heavy (ca. 2000 pages) and detailed. Serves best to check out or learn in depth a specific melacha with Hebrew footnotes to enable further study
• Shemirath Shabbath KeHilchata remains a classic, can be read cover to cover (although a bit heavy) and doesn't address more recent technology innovations
• R Simcha Bunim Cohen's set feels more readable since each volume only covers specific topics (e.g., the home, the kitchen, muktze, amira l'akum) and is focused on halacha l'maase but (Hebrew) footnotes bring a variety of opinions
• R Daniel Braude's Learn Shabbos in Just 3 Minutes A Day is a very recent book which is structured along the 39 melachot, it brings the halacha for each with background, lots of practical day-to-day examples and sources (mostly SA, MB, SSK and piskei aharonim focused on R SZ Auerbach, R Eliashiv). Its title stems from the fact it is broken down in 500 or so sections which can be learned in a few minutes. It is both highly readable and quite deep

Answer 2

Piskei Shabbas by Rabbi Eliezer Padwar is also very helpful sefer. It is 4 volumes (Yom tov as one vol) . It is in English and has footnotes. Many of the psakim are from Rav Moshe Feinstein ,and the Debercheiner Rav. Many people also use Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen's seforim ,which has good notes (Many times contain more lenient opinions). There is also Rav Shimon Eiders sefer on shabbas as well.

Sample page:

Rav Cohen's books:

Rabbi Eider:

Answer 3

The 39 Melochos by Rabbi Dovid Ribiat. I haven't used it that often myself, but in my experience of observing others this seems to be one of the most, if not the most, highly regarded English books about the laws of Shabbos. The few times that I have used it it seemed to do a good job of laying out the concepts and providing the relevant sources.