When Reading in Shul, DO NOT Read During Davening or Krias HaTorah
...Continued from the previous week
1) Often people fidget with items out of boredom or just to keep their hands occupied, but for no other constructive purpose, such as with a bottle cap, a pile of crumbs or a spoon that is lying on the table.
2) So long as the items in question are not otherwise Muktzeh (such as a pile of empty nutshells on the table) many Poskim will deem this an acceptable “purpose” to be handling a Kli SheMelachto L’Heter, especially if it would be difficult for this person to stop if he was told not to do it. (Ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal in the name of the Chazon Ish, quoted in Orchos Shabbos Perek 19 footnote 108. See also Aruch Hashulchan Siman 308:15 that if moving for pleasure, it is permitted. This would seemingly include out of nervousness or boredom too. The Ben Ish Chai, Parshas Mikeitz Siman 1 rules otherwise and cautions against fidgeting with silverware and the like on Shabbos.)
The Chasam Sofer Zatzal would caution his family and his students against fidgeting with things and otherwise touching things for no reason, even during the weekday, so as to condition themselves not to touch or handle things for no reason on Shabbos. (Sefer Chut Shani Page 99)
3) If a Kli SheMelachto L’Heter is not needed now, but is being moved now so it will be available for use at a later time during the same Shabbos, it is considered moving for an acceptable purpose and is allowed. (Mishna Berura Siman 308 S”K 21)
4) However, if it is being moved on Shabbos so it will be available for use after Shabbos, it is not deemed an acceptable purpose to move it, as it is forbidden to prepare on Shabbos for after Shabbos.
5) The next category of Muktzeh that we will discuss is Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis (Literally translated as Muktzeh due to [fear of] monetary loss)
This is an item that people are careful with to not use for anything other than its intended use, as they are concerned that it may get ruined. (This does not necessarily have to be an expensive item; a credit card and a stamped envelope qualify for this classification. As we progress we will see other criteria as well that can impact the status of these items one way or the other)
6) This is a more severe category of Muktzeh than other types of Muktzeh, and such items may not be moved or handles on Shabbos, even if doing so L’Tzorech Gufo or L’Tzorech Mekomo. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 308:1. See Talmud Shabbos 157a that even Rebbi Shimon, who doesn’t prohibit moving most other categories of Muktzeh, agrees that this category is prohibited)
7) Some Poskim maintain that Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis only applies to items which are otherwise classified as Kli SheMelachto L’Isur, and thus their status is elevated to a more severe Muktzeh of Machmas Chisaron Kis, but does not apply to items that are otherwise deemed Kli SheMelachto L’Heter (See Shu”t HaRosh Siman 22, Tosefos to Shabbos 46a, Pnei Yehoshua Shabbos 46a and Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 308:4)
8) Other Poskim, however, maintain that all utensils can be classified as Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis if they have the right criteria (as we shall discuss more in detail as we progress in this topic), even if they would otherwise be deemed Kli SheMelachto L’Heter. (See Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 41:7 and 43:16. See also Mishna Berura Siman 308 S”K 8)
9) If one is not careful about a particular item to not use it for other uses besides its intended use, and doesn’t worry about it getting ruined or broken, it is not deemed Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis, even if this item is usually treated carefully by other people.
The reason for this is that the classification of an item as Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis is dependent on how the owner treats it, not based on how others treat it. (See Mishna Berura Siman 308 S”K 6)
10) For example, if someone has an electronic item like an MP3 player, if he is careful to keep it in its case, not to leave it unattended on the table and the like, it will be classified as Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis.
However, if he isn’t very careful with it, and often leaves it lying around, and doesn’t care if others touch it, it will not be deemed Muktzeh Machmas Chisaron Kis, and only be subject to the rules of Kli SheMelachto L’Isur.
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
