We continue with the problem of items that came loose

The stick of the broomstick came out, is one permitted to put it back?

The same rule applies to a broomstick. When the stick detaches from the brush, one is sorely tempted to reinsert it back into the brush. Since the stick is screwed in place and screwing is equivalent to joining, [1] it is forbidden to insert it and therefore the broom is muktze. [2] If the broomstick frequently detaches itself, there may be what to rely to reinsert it, and preferably a rav should be consulted.

This halacha may apply to the glass piece or handle of eyeglasses and to other items that are composed of a few pieces, i.e. if the eyepiece falls out of the glasses on Shabbos or the handle detaches itself. A rav should be consulted at such an eventuality.

Muktze Issues

If a rock or a piece of glass poses a hazard to the public, what may be done to remove it?

Any object that poses a threat to the public may be moved out of harm’s way. [3] This is because handling muktze is a rabbinical prohibition and where public health is at stake, Chazal waved aside their restriction.

What if we come across an open manhole?

Accordingly, if there is an open pit or manhole in the street one may cover it up, even if it involves handling muktze. However, one may not replace the original cover because that would is boneh – constructing, [4] rather one must use a board etc. to cover the hole. Obviously one may instruct a non-Jew to use the original cover.

Also, if a rock or piece of metal is lying in the road in such a way that they are likely to cause harm, if there is an eiruv or it is in a carmelis, [5] they may be carried to the side; if they are in a reshus harabim, [6] one may carry it for a distance of less than four amos – put it down [7] – carry it less than four amos – put it down etc. until moved out of harm’s way.

We find though that if a rock is easily noticed and thereby the chance of it causing harm is remote, it may not be moved out of the way – in the normal manner, rather one should move it out of the way with one’s foot or any other abnormal manner. [8]

I would like to crack open a nut with a rock on Shabbos, may I?

This and the following questions deal with setting aside objects that are not a k’li. Sticks and stones are categorized as muktze machmas gufo, which is a severe muktze in a way that it may not be moved even l’tsorech gufo um’komo – for example, to use a stone as a doorstopper.

However, their status can be altered. If one were to either: [9]

§        Set the item aside before Shabbos for permanent use. This can be done either verbally or mentally.

§        Use it on a regular basis during the week, even without having mentally set it aside for permanent use.

§        Physically modify the item. In such a case it will be sufficient to set it aside even for one Shabbos.

In the above cases a stone or a stick may be used and handled on Shabbos.

May an item be set aside for a single Shabbos?

As we see, setting aside an item for a single Shabbos is insufficient. However, there is an opinion who holds that setting aside for one Shabbos items regularly used for specific purposes is sufficient. Accordingly, where it is common to use a stone for a nutcracker, it would suffice to prepare it before Shabbos as such.

The Mishna Berura [10] rules that when necessary one may rely on this opinion. Seeing that in developed regions a manufactured nutcracker is used and not stones, if one wished to use a stone as a nutcracker, one would be required to adhere to one of three points mentioned above.

What about using a rock as a doorstopper?

The same rule applies to using a rock or brick as a doorstopper. In today’s specialized world a rock is not commonly used as such. Therefore, if one would like to use a rock as a doorstopper, it would be preferable to adhere to one of the above three points. Supposedly in more rural areas it is common to use rocks as doorstoppers and there is what to rely on to set it aside for a single Shabbos.

When taking a walk in the forest, may I plop down onto any stone?

Obviously, the stones in the forest were not prepared by you to be used as benches. Therefore, you may not move them around in order to make them comfortable for sitting on. However, sitting on them does not require you to physically handle them, and therefore you may sit on them, [11] even though they might move when sat upon. This is permitted because it is called tiltul b’gufo – handling muktze through one’s body and not with one’s hands.

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