Muktzeh (
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
: "separated") is a concept in
Jewish rabbinical law. Muktzeh objects are subject to use restrictions on the Sabbath. The generally accepted view regarding these items is that they may be touched, though not moved, during
Shabbat
Shabbat (, , or ; he, שַׁבָּת, Šabbāṯ, , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical storie ...
(the Jewish Sabbath) or
Yom Tov
Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or ''Yamim Tovim'' ( he, ימים טובים, , Good Days, or singular , in transliterated Hebrew []), are holidays observed in Judaism and by JewsThis article focuses on practices of mainstre ...
(Jewish holiday). Some extend this prohibition to the actual handling of these items. Halakha defines various categories of objects or substances which are "set aside" on the Jewish Sabbath, as well as various permissible instances of moving these various ''muktzeh'' items. For example, one may not handle money, rocks, twigs, etc. on Shabbat, as these items are ''muktzeh''.
The consensus among the halakhic authorities is that muktzeh is an ''
issur d'rabbanan'' (a rabbinic prohibition), rather than a ''d'oreisa'' (biblical prohibition).
The laws of muktzeh can be divided into two distinct subjects:
* "Muktzeh", i.e. the conditions needed for something to become muktzeh, ''and'' the properties of the various categories thereof;
* "Tiltul", i.e. if an item is indeed determined to be muktzeh, it must be determined when and how it may be moved.
General concept
Muktzeh is essentially a restriction on objects that were not 'prepared' before the Sabbath. The absence of preparedness in this sense means that when Shabbat began, the vast majority of people would not have expected to use this particular item or substance on Shabbat.
Categories
There are six main categories of muktzeh,
[1992 Rabbi Baruch Chait ''The 39 Avoth Melacha of Shabbat https://www.feldheim.com/ the-39-avoth-melacha-of-shabbath Page 42] each one with different halakhic ramifications:
* ''Mechamat Chisaron Kis'': delicate objects which one is extremely careful when handling; ''e.g.'' a musical instrument or camera.
* ''Basis'': an object supporting a muktzeh item, which takes the same status as the muktzeh item; ''e.g.'' the tray holding the Shabbat candles.
* ''Mechamat Gufo'': objects that are not utensils and have no ordinary Shabbat function; ''e.g.'' raw foods.
* ''Mechamat Isura'': objects whose use is totally prohibited on Shabbat; at the start of Shabbat, they become muktzeh, remaining muktzeh until the end of Shabbat; ''e.g.''
Shabbat candles
Shabbat candles ( he, נרות שבת) are candles lit on Friday evening before sunset to usher in the Jewish Sabbath. Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candle-lighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household ...
.
* ''Kli Shemlachto L'isur'': objects designed primarily to perform forbidden work; ''e.g.'' a hammer.
* ''Mechamat Mitzvah'': objects used only to perform a non-Shabbat
mitzvah
In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; he, מִצְוָה, ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment commanded by God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of discus ...
; ''e.g.'' a
lulav
''Lulav'' (; he, לולב) is a closed frond of the date palm tree. It is one of the Four Species used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The other Species are the ''hadass'' (Myrtus, myrtle), '' aravah'' (willow), and ''etrog'' (citron). Wh ...
.
See also
*
Activities prohibited on Shabbat
The 39 Melakhot ( he, ל״ט אבות מלאכה, '' lamed-tet avot melakhah'', "39 categories of work") are thirty-nine categories of activity which Jewish law identifies as prohibited by biblical law on Shabbat. Many of these activities are also ...
References
Laws of Shabbat
Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law
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