Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Status of Vessels that Broke on Shabbat

Day: Wednesday
Date: January 16, 2013
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.

A kli that breaks on or before Shabbat becomes Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo since none of the pieces have any use. If any piece does have a use then it is not Muktzeh. For example, if the sole of a shoe, or the strap of a sandal falls off and renders it useless, it becomes Muktzeh. Nowadays, since we have proper plates and dishes one would not use even a large shard as a plate or for any other use. Therefore it is proper to consider the pieces to be Muktzeh even if they are big enough to have a use. The pieces of a broken kli can be swept up with a broom since it is Tiltul Min Hatzad, but they may not be handled directly. If glass that broke the pieces may even be picked up by hand since it is dangerous and someone could get hurt. 


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Raw Meat on Shabbat

Day: Tuesday
Date: January 15, 2013
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.


Raw meat that can ne eaten as such is not Muktzeh. Since some people eat it that way (steak tartare etc,) it is not Muktzeh. Even if it is currently frozen it can also be moved. If ones refrigerator or freezer stopped working on Shabbat he can bring the contents, including raw meat, next door for safekeeping. If meat is blocking something else on the fridge or freezer one may move the meat out of the way to get that item.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Miuktzeh Status of Peels, Pits, and Shells

Day: Monday
Date: January 14, 2013
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.


Shells and pits fall into the category of Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo since they have no functional use. One who is eating sunflower seeds may take the shells out of his mouth by hand to put on the table and he doesn't have to spit them out. However, once they are on the table they may not be moved directly for any purpose since they are Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo . The same goes for any other shells, pits, or peels. If the shells can be used as animal food then they do in fact have a purpose and they would not be Muktzeh. Likewise, if some of the fruit is left on the pit, it's also not Muktzeh. For example, if one is eating olives and a little bit of the olive clings to the pit, the pit is not Muktzeh. As always they can be moved indirectly, such as being swept up with a napkin, which is known as Tiltul Min Hatzad. They can also be moved directly if a person wants to sit at the table and finds them unsightly.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo

Day: Sunday
Date: January 13, 2013
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.

Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo, or, "Muktzeh because of itself," includes anything which is not a kli, is not edible food, and was not set aside before Shabbat for a purpose that is allowed on Shabbat. Examples are rocks, branches, frozen food, barbecue briquettes, paint, and animals. 
Items that are Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo may not be moved for any reason -even for their place- just like Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees. Lo Aleinu, a corpse is considered to be Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo. The practice when there is a corpse Gd forbid is to put it on the floor and cover it with a sheet. However on Shabbat this becomes problematic since the corpse is Muktzeh and therefore may not be moved. However, since the clothing on the corpse are not Muktzeh it can still be moved. If there are none, the practice is to put bread or something else that may be moved on Shabbat and then the corpse may be moved as well. This can only be done in that situation, ordinarily one may not put a non Muktzeh item on Shabbat onto things that are Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo in order to move them. May Hashem protect us from such things and may we merit to see the Mashiah soon! 

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Muktzeh Food

Day: Thursday 
Date: January 10, 2013
Parshat: Va'era
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.

Merchandise that is edible and can be eaten the way it is (not raw etc.) is not considered Muktzeh at all whether or not the owner would or wouldn't use it. If the food is not edible, like raw meat or potatoes, then it belongs to a completely different category of Muktzeh called Muktzeh Mahmat Gufo -Muktzeh because of the item itself. We will discuss more about this category later Be'ezrat HaShem. If the item is not edible on its own but just needs to be mixed with something else then it is also not Muktzeh. 
Examples of food items that are not Muktzeh include; apples, oranges and any edible food.
Examples of food items that are Muktzeh include; frozen meat, raw potatoes, raw fish, eggs, and flour. 
Sugar, vinegar, Matzah meal, drink mixes, and those kinds of things are all not Muktzeh even though they can not be eaten on there own. 

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Status of Merchandis​e

Day: Wednesday
Date: January 9, 2013
Parshat: Va'era
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.


Merchandise is considered to be Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees and therefore may not be moved for any purpose on Shabbat. However if one would use the merchandise on Shabbat even though he wants to sell it, then it can be moved even if he's not actually using it. For example, a person who sells dishes and has a storeroom in his house may not move the dishes on Shabbat. If however he doesn't care to use them and still sell them, then they may be moved. If the item will be a danger it can also be moved. For example, a glass dish that is Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees (since it is set aside to be sold etc.) and is in danger of falling may be moved to a safer location since if it falls the shards can hurt people.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Items Considered Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees Can Vary From Person to Person

Day: Tuesday
Date: January 8, 2013
Parshat: Va'era
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.


As mentioned previously, a condition necessary to make an item Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees is that one needs to be careful to use the item for its intended purpose only. However, if one doesn't mind using the item for other purposes, it does not become Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees even if no one else in the world would use it for a different purpose. For example, a stamp can be considered Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees since one can not mail letters on Shabbat (which makes it a Kli Shemelachto Le'isur) and in general one wouldn't use a stamp for any other purpose. However, if Reuven uses his stamps to keep track of where he is up to in the Sefer he is learning, his stamps are not considered to be Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees. Instead they are considered to be Kelim Shemelachtam Le'isur, and may be moved in certain circumstances. Items that are Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees may not be moved directly for any reason. This includes moving it to use the place it is occupying or even moving it into the shade to protect it.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 7, 2013

Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees

Day: Monday
Date: January 7, 2013
Parshat: Va'era
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.


Another category of Muktzeh is called Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees, or, "Muktzeh because of a loss of money." In a order for an item to be Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees it must satisfy two requirements.
1. It must be an item that technically is a Kli Shemelachto Le'isur. (Refer to yesterday's halacha for more info.)
2. One needs to be careful to only use it for the purpose that it was made for.
Surprisingly, the value of the item has very little to do its Muktzeh status. A diamond necklace worth many thousands of dollars for example, is not Muktzeh, since it can not also be classified as a Kli Shemelachto Le'isur. However a knife that is used specifically for slaughtering animals is Muktzeh Mahmat Hesron Kees even though it may cost far less. Since one may not slaughter animals on Shabbat and a person would not use a slaughtering knife for any other purpose since it can dull the blade and ruin the knife it becomes Muktzeh Mahamat Hesron Kees. Another example is a stamp. A stamp is used to mail things, which can not be done on Shabbat. In addition, a person wouldn't use a stamp for any other purpose because it might get ruined.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Kli Shemelachto Leheter, and Kli Shemelacho Le'isur

Day: Sunday
Date: January 6, 2013
Parshat: Va'era
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf. 

With regards to muktzeh, vessels can be divided into one of two categories. The first is a vessel who's main function is for an action that is permitted on Shabbat. Take for example, a spoon. A spoon is made for eating, which is obviously permitted on Shabbat. The other category is a vessel who's intended function is not permissible on Shabbat. For example, a hammer. Hammers are made for building or repairing which is not permitted on Shabbat. These categories are called "kli shemelachto leheter," and "kli shemelachto le'isur," respectively. Kli shemelachto leheter is a vessel made for a permitted function. Kli shemelachto le'isur is a vessel made for a function that is forbidden on Shabbat.  


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at www.613dsh.com

Friday, January 4, 2013

Tiltul Min Hatzad

Day: Friday 
Date: January 4, 2013
Parshat: Shemot
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf. 

It is permissible on Shabbat to move muktzeh indirectly, meaning one can push the muktzeh item by pushing another object which in turn will cause the muktzeh to be moved. For example, shells and peels are muktzeh and may not be cleared off the table by picking them up directly or sweeping them off the table with one's hand. However one may wipe off the table with a napkin since he is not directly moving the shells. Rather he is moving the napkin which in turn. is moving the shells. If the shells or peels disgust the person or if they can be used as food for animals then it is permissible to clear them off even by hand. It should be noted that this is different than moving muktzeh by blowing it etc. That method is called kil'achar yad, which is moving the item directly, but in a way that it is not normally moved. The method discussed above is called tiltul min hatzad, which is indirectly moving the object in a normal way. 


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at www.613dsh.com

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Understanding the Prohibition Against Moving Muktzeh

Day: Thursday
Date: January 3, 2013
Parshat: Shemot
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.
The prohibition called Tiltul (also known as muktzeh) is the act of moving muktzeh items. Merely touching muktzeh items is not prohibited as long as one is careful not to move them at all. In addition, it is only prohibited to move something in the fashion that the item normally is moved. However, one may move things with one's body, one's foot, or even by blowing on it since these methods are not normally used to pick up or move objects. An object that is normally moved in one of the aforementioned fashions may not be moved in that way. Examples would be the following; One may sit on a rock on Shabbat to rest as long as he knows that the rock will not shift at all when he sits on and gets up from it. Or, if one finds money on the floor on Shabbat he may kick it to the side and with his foot push it under something there in order so that he can come back after Shabbat and retrieve it. One may lean on a car on Shabbat even if the car will rock slightly on its springs since ultimately the wheels have not budged and the car is in the same place. 


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at www.613dsh.com

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Reasons for the Prohibition Against Muktzeh

Day: Wednesday
Date: January 2, 2013
Parshat: Shemot
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.

Our Hachamim forbade moving certain objects on Shabbat. This prohibition is called muktzeh. There are a few different reasons given for the prohibition. They are;
1. To prevent people from inadvertently carrying from one domain to another. 
2. The Hachamim reasoned that if one's way of walking and one's speech have to be different on Shabbat from during the week, then it stands to reason that the things that one moves should be different as well. If one could move whatever he wanted then one may decide to rearrange his house for example since he has the time on Shabbat and the sanctity would be lost. 
3. If one is allowed to move anything he might move a hammer or some other similar instrument and use it for its purpose. 
4. There are many people who don't work during the week and in order that they too should feel the difference between Shabbat and weekdays the Hachamim forbade moving some things.
These are some of the reasons why the Hachamim enacted the prohibition of muktzeh.

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at www.613dsh.com