While there is no explicit prohibition in the written Torah for carrying objects between domains on the Sabbath, according to traditional Jewish commentators, this category of melakha is mentioned in : According to the Talmud, the manna could not be collected on Sabbath because it could not be carried into the Israelites' homes. Another rabbinically quoted verse is : The Talmud understands the latter verse to refer tothe people ceasing to carry their donations from their personal domains to the sanctuary, on Shabbat. Likewise according to the Talmud, the wood-gatherer in was executed because he violated the prohibition of transferring wood between domains. The book of Jeremiah is more explicit: The latter quote specifies two types of carrying which are forbidden - carrying into the gates of Jerusalem, or out of an individual's house.
Domains
According to halacha, all areas are divided into four categories:
The open area is defined as not bounded by walls or fences, and which also is not traversed by large numbers of people. By the Torah, the open area is considered an exempt area; however rabbinic enactments treat it more strictly. Two activities are biblically forbidden:
Transferring an object from a private domain to a public thoroughfare, or vice versa.
Transferring an object a distance of 4 cubits in a public thoroughfare.
In addition, three activities are rabbinically forbidden:
Transferring an object from a private domain to an open area, or vice versa.
Transferring an object a distance of 4 cubits in an open area.
Transferring an object between two different private domains.
The following activities are permitted:
Transferring an object within a single private domain.
Transferring an object between an exempt area and any other domains. However, it is sometimes forbidden to use an exempt area as a "stopover" when the intent is to transfer between two other domains.
Transferring an object across multiple open areas, as long as the total distance carried is less than 4 cubits.
Methods of transfer
The Torah law of hotzaah is violated only if a single person picks up an object in one domain and deposits it in another domain. This has the following implications:
If a person picks up an object and begins walking, the Torah law has not been violated until he stops walking. Even a brief pause to rest is considered a hanacha which causes Torah law to be violated.
If a person did not pick up an object at all, but rather the object was deposited in his hands by another person while he was walking, he does not violate Torah law even after stopping, as he never performed akirah.
If two people carried an object together, neither one has violated Torah law. However, this is rabbinically forbidden.
If a person picked up an object in a private domain, exited to a public domain, continued walking to another private domain, and deposited the object there - he has not violated Torah law. This is because he never picked up or deposited the object in the public domain, so there was no forbidden transfer between public and private domains. Of course, if at any point while walking in the public domain he stopped momentarily, that would cause Torah law to be violated. In any case, transfer between two different private domains violates rabbinic law.
If a person, while walking, lets the object he is holding approach within three handbreadths of the ground, it is considered as if the object has been placed on the ground. This can generate additional violations of Torah law. This is due to the principle of lavud, also used when constructing a sukkah. Throwing an object from one domain to another has the same rules as carrying the object between those domains.
