The Laws of "Muktzah"

The laws of Shabbos create a Sabbatical life style. Due to this lifestyle a person will not use many objects or utensils on the Shabbos. These objects are called "Muktzah", and are Rabbinically forbidden to move with one's hands. Should it become necessary to move them, in some cases they were permitted to move them or use them either with his hands or with other parts of his body, and in some cases they were not permitted to be moved. We will now discuss the laws of Muktzah. The categories of Muktzah are four.

Muktzah Category 1, "Detestable Objects"

This category is forbidden on Yom-Tov but permitted on Shabbos. It refers to all dirty or detestable objects or implements.

Muktzah Category 2, "Forbidden Things"

This category is subdivided into two sub-categories. Sub- category one, includes things that cannot be used as they are unless a forbidden Sabbatical work is performed to enable them to be used, consequently, the person has no intention of using it on Shabbos. Therefore, even if the work is done by nature, it is still Muktzah. Some examples of this are:

1. Fruit growing on a tree that is forbidden to pluck in order to eat it. Even after it fell to the ground it remains Muktzah.

2. Fish that must be captured and killed to be eaten and were found dead on the beach.

3. The oil of an oil lantern that was burning but the wind extinguished the flame.

4. An egg that was laid on Shabbos. Since it was non existent before Shabbos he had no intention of using it on Shabbos.

Subcategory 2, includes utensils that are normally used for doing jobs that are forbidden on Shabbos, such as a hammer, drill, pliers, saw, rake, spade, musical instrument, oil or kerosene lamps even when they are not burning, wax candles, etc. It is permitted to use a hammer to crack nuts and a plier to open a bottle cap if a nut cracker or bottle cap opener is not available. If one needs the place that these utensils are occupying it is permitted to move them.

Muktzah Category 3, "Objects of Mitzvos"

These are objects that one dedicated to perform a mitzva with them and did not intend to use them for another purpose, such as objects used to adorn a Sukka on the holiday, and oil dripping from the Shabbos candle.

Muktzah Category 4, "All Other Muktzah"

Some examples of this are:

1. Raw meat and fish that cannot be eaten unless cooked or processed with heat or pickled. Since these processes are forbidden on Shabbos, therefore, these foods are unusable on Shabbos and are Muktzah.

2. Building material including windows and doors.

3. Garbage, including pieces of metal, glass, wood and broken utensils

4. Money that is used for doing business.

5. Feathers and animal skin.

6. Raw wood and carpenter's sawdust.

7. Earth and sand even when in a pot.

8. A human corpse.

9. All animals and insects including their eggs if they rotted.

10. Nut shells, egg shells and bones that are not edible even for an animal.

11. Expensive items that are for show and are not intended to be used, such as paintings and delicate art objects.

12. Objects that are designated for business and he has no intention to use it for himself. This does not include edible food which does not become Muktzah

13. Professional utensils such as the knife used for circumcision which becomes Muktzah after the circumcision is completed on Shabbos

14. Paper designated for writing, such as a pad or stationery.

15. A letter that is guarded due to its personal value or importance.

16. Objects that were created or came into being on Shabbos, such as charcoal created from wood, eggs laid on Shabbos, and milk that was milked on Shabbos.

17. Dried fruit when the drying process was completed on Shabbos and was inedible at the start of Shabbos.

18. Tefillin (phylacteries), but holy books are permitted even if they were set aside to sell.

The following examples are permitted on Shabbos but on Yom-Tov they are Muktzah.

19. Raw meat or partially cured fish that are somewhat edible as is.

20. Food and drink that were set aside to sell, eggs that were freshly placed under a chicken but are still edible, and wheat that was set aside for planting.

21. An animal that died on Yom-Tov, meat that rotted on Yom-Tov, and bones left after the meal, and are now fit only for animal consumption.

22. Vessels that broke on Yom-Tov and its larger pieces can be used as a cup, its pieces are Muktzah on Yom- Tov. If, however the owner threw the pieces into the garbage, it is Muktzah on the Shabbos.

The following are rules relating to the four Muktzah categories.

1. If the item was Muktzah after the sun set before Shabbos, it remains Muktzah all Shabbos.

2. If the Muktzah was resting on something, both the Muktzah item and the thing it is resting on are forbidden to move. As a result of this rule, the Rabbis forbade placing Muktzah on something, became it causes the second item to be forbidden to move.

The laws relating to Muktzah resting on something is divided into two categories. The first category is where the thing upon which the Muktzah is resting is not a base for the Muktzah item. The second category is where it becomes a base for the Muktzah item and it itself becomes a Muktzah item with the same rules as the Muktzah item that is resting on the base. The halachic differences between the two categories are that where it does not become a base for Muktzah, if he needs the object or the place where the object is found, he may shake the Muktzah item off or move the non-base item from the place that it is occupying. If he suspects that he may damage the Muktzah item if he shakes it off, then he may move it with the Muktzah item.

There are seven rules to become a base of Muktzah.

1. That it must rest upon it when the sun set on friday.

2. Some Sages are of the opinion that he must intend that the item will rest upon it for the remainder of Shabbos

3. He must intentionally place the Muktzah item upon the base to remain there at least until the start of the Shabbos.

4. The base object must belong to him or that he had permission from the owner of the base to place the Muktzah item on the base.

5. Some Sages rule that if he piled up objects one upon another because he lacked space to arrange them neatly, then the objects that are under the Muktzah item do not become base for Muktzah.

6. That the Muktzah item lie upon the base, this excludes Muktzah in the pocket of a garment that lies in the pocket and not upon the garment.

7. That if there are items on the base that are not Muktzah and that these non-muktzah items as a whole are dearer or more important to him than the Muktzah items that are on the base, it does not become a base for Muktzah. Therefore, it is permitted to open a draw but not to remove a non-muktzah item, if the Muktzah item laying on it is more important.

According to some Sages, a candlestick holder or the table upon which the candles are lit do not become a base for Muktzah because the Muktzah item which is the candles do not last the entire Shabbos. However, it is the custom to place "Cholos" or wine on the table before the sun sets on Friday.

It is permitted to designate a Muktzah item before Shabbos to be used on a specific Shabbos for a purpose that the Muktzah item is sometimes used for, but not for a purpose that is rarely used for. For example, it is permitted to designate a stone to crack nuts, but not to cover the mouth of a bottle unless he permanently designates the stone for the sole purpose of covering bottles. The latter method of permanently designating the Muktzah item for a specific use is the preferred method since this is the only acceptable method for other Muktzah categories.

It is permitted to use a Muktzah item so long as it does not move. Therefore, it is permitted to rub and place things on and remove things from, a car, providing that it is done carefully so that the car does not move.

It is permitted to move Muktzah with a foot or the body but not with the hand or anything controlled by the hand. Therefore, it is forbidden to shake off the rain drops from the Sechach (roof) of a Sukkah even with a stick

It is permitted to remove a Muktzah item if there is danger that it can hurt someone. Therefore, it is permitted to remove broken glass from the floor or items that are dangerous to an infant if he puts in his mouth.

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