Bosis

From Halachipedia

What is a Bosis?

  1. An object upon which Muktzeh was left intentionally from before Shabbat and one intended that it stay there as Shabbat entered (during Bein HaShemashot), the object becomes a Bosis. [1]
  2. One may not move a Bosis on Shabbat even if one needs its place or to use it for a permitted use. [2]
  3. If money or any other muktzeh item was left unintentionally on a table, one may learn on the table on Shabbat if it isn’t certain that learning there will cause the money to move. [3]
  4. If one realizes that he left money in his pocket on Shabbat, one may shake out the money and then wear the clothing. However, if one already is wearing the clothing, he may continue wearing it until he reaches a place where he can shake out the money. [4]
  5. If raw meat or another muktzeh item was left on the door of one’s freezer, the door does not become a bosis. [5]
  6. A basket of fruit with a rock in it shouldn’t be moved without shaking out the rock or at least spilling out everything and returning the fruit without the rock. However, if spilling/shaking out the basket will ruin the fruit one may move the basket as a whole. [6]
  7. A purse which is made to hold money if there’s no money inside is considered a Kli Sh’Melachto LeIssur and so if there’s a key inside one may open it to take out the key. [7]
  8. If someone places an item on someone else's non-muktzeh item it doesn't make it a bosis unless he had permission to do so.[8]

Drawers

  1. If someone leaves items in a drawer with a muktzeh item on top of a permitted item, some say that the permitted item on bottom isn't muktzeh, while some disagree.[9] Ashkenazim can be lenient in a case of need,[10] Sephardim should be strict.[11]

Mid-Shabbat Bosis

  1. Is it possible to create a bosis in the middle of Shabbat? According to the majority of rishonim if muktzeh is intentionally placed upon a non-muktzeh item on Shabbat the non-muktzeh item becomes a bosis such that even tilting off the muktzeh is forbidden.[12] The halacha is accordance with this opinion.[13] A minority opinion holds that a mid-Shabbat bosis isn't a bosis and the muktzeh can be tilted off.[14]
  2. If muktzeh was placed on non-muktzeh on Shabbat does it make the non-muktzeh a bosis if one had intention to remove it before the end of Shabbat? Most rishonim hold that one can tilt off the muktzeh if one had intention to remove it before the end of Shabbat.[15]
  3. Some say that if one needs to move this mid-Shabbat bosis one can place upon it something non-muktzeh that is more valuable than the muktzeh item and then it'll be permitted to tilt the bosis or if tilting isn't feasible one can bring it to a place where it is.[16]

A bosis with both Muktzeh and non-Muktzeh

  1. A vessel which has on it both a muktzeh item and a non-muktzeh item is non-muktzeh if the non-muktzeh item is more impotant than the muktzeh item, however, if the muktzeh item is more important, then the vessel is muktzeh. [17] If they are both equal some poskim hold that it isn't a bosis.[18]
  2. What is considered more important depends on the owner. [19]
  3. Generally the more valuable item is the one which is considered more important. However, many opinions hold that if an non-muktzah object is needed for that Shabbat it is considered more important. [20]

Sources

  1. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 89:1
  2. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 89:1
  3. The Mishnah (Shabbat 142b) states that if one wants to move a barrel on Shabbat and a rock was left on top of the barrel from before Shabbat, he may tilt the barrel so that the rock falls off and then move the barrel. The Gemara limits this to a case in which the rock was left unintentionally; however, if the rock was left on top of the barrel intentionally, one may not move the barrel at all, as it is considered a bosis for muktzeh, serving as a support of the muktzeh item. The Mishnah explains if one isn’t able to tilt off the rock, such as if there’s a fear of it breaking other barrels nearby when it is tilting off, one may move the barrel with the rock on top until one reaches a places where one can safely remove the rock. The Rambam (Shabbat 25:17), Tur, and S”A 309:4 codify this as Halacha.
    • The Maharil (Shabbat n. 28) writes that one may learn on a table on which money was left because it isn’t a psik reisha that the coins will move. Olat Shabbat 309:2, Ba’eir Heiteiv 309:3, and Kaf HaChaim 309:11 codify this statement. Migdanot Eliyahu 2:69 infers that the case is where the coins didn’t make the table a bosis; otherwise, the Maharil should have been concerned with moving the table and not just the coins. Accordingly, Mishna Brurah (309:15 and Shaar HaTziyun 309:19) explains that had it been a psik reisha that one will move the coins, he would have to tilt off the money unless tilting it off would cause a loss (as in S”A 309:4). Additionally, he adds that the Maharil assumes that a psik reisha of a d’rabanan prohibition is forbidden, unlike the Trumat HaDeshen (see Magen Avraham 314:5).
  4. The Beit Yosef 309:5 writes that if one forgets money in a pocket which is sewn onto the clothing at the top of the pocket and not along its entire side, the clothing does not become a bosis, as the money isn’t on top of the primary part of the clothing. Nonetheless, adds the Beit Yosef, it is forbidden to wear the clothing because of a prohibition that one may carry it on Shabbat. Rama 310:8 agrees.
    • Magen Avraham 310:7 elaborates that regarding a pocket which is sewn only at its top to the clothing, one does not even have to shake out the money before moving it, since it was left there unintentionally and the money is not on the primary part of the clothing. If the pocket was sewn along the entire length onto the clothing, however, the money would need to be shaken out. Mishna Brurah 310:29 writes that if the money was left there intentionally, one shouldn’t put his hands in the pocket because the pocket itself certainly is a bosis. Rabbi Yisrael Bodner (Tiltulei Shabbat p. 94) writes that the common pants pockets are sewn only at the top of the pocket, whereas shirt pockets are sewn along their entire length. He notes that in either case, if one wants to wear the clothing he must shake out the money.
    • Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 20:75 writes that if one realizes that one forgot money in his pocket only after he already is wearing the clothing and would be embarrassed to remove the clothing in order to shake out the muktzeh, he may continue to wear the clothing until he reaches a place where he can shake out the muktzeh.
    • The Chayei Adam 67:10 writes that if only a few insignificant coins were left in the pocket, they are nullified to the clothing because a person wouldn’t nullify the use of his clothing because of a few coins. Mishna Brurah 310:31 agrees.
  5. The Gemara (Shabbat 120b) records the opinion of Rav, who forbade opening or closing a door with an oil candle built in. Tosfot (s.v. Pote’ach) explain that when the door is moved, the oil in the candle is distanced or brought closer to the wick, thereby violating Mechabeh or Mav’ir. Tosfot ask why the Gemara didn’t forbid it because the door is bosis. Their first answer is that the door can’t become a bosis, as it is nullified to the house and not to the candle. Mordechai (Siman 400) agrees.
    • Although the Bei’ur Halacha s.v. Af notes that the Yerushalmi considers the door a bosis unless the candle was left there unintentionally, he suggests that the Yerushalmi is in disagreement with the Bavli. Mishna Brurah 277:4 and Kaf HaChaim 227:11 quote the Mordechai as halacha. Thus, Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 20:77 writes that if muktzeh is left hanging on a house or cabinet door, the door does not become a bosis. Rabbi Hershel Schachter (Halachipedia Article 5773 #22) said that the same would apply to frozen raw meat or other muktzeh items on the door of his freezer, and the door does not become a bosis.
  6. S”A 309:3, Mishna Brurah 309:10
  7. Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 20:16
  8. Tosfot 44b s.v. yesh, Shitah LRan 44b s.v. lo yichda, Ritva 44b s.v. lo yichda. The Ritva explains that if someone places a muktzeh on top of non-muktzeh it doesn’t become a bosis because it is considered like it was forgotten there.
  9. Trumat Hadeshen Pesakim 193 writes that some wanted to permit something that was left haphazardly on top of something else unless it was left there to rest there securely. He disagrees with that position. Magen Avraham 309:6 accepts the lenient view. Rabbi Akiva Eiger 309:4 rejects one of the proofs of the Magen Avraham.
  10. Mishna Brurah 309:18, Shulchan Aruch Harav 309:9, Orchot Shabbat v. 2 p. 134
  11. Taz 309:1, Chazon Ovadia v. 3 p. 133
    1. Baal Hameor 66b s.v. amar explains that a bosis can't be created mid-Shabbat and you can tilt off the muktzeh. Magen Avraham 308:50 accepts this. Ritva Beitzah 21b s.v. gezerah and Shitah Mikubeset Beitzah 21b s.v. vod citing the Raah imply this as well. Chazon Ish 48:8 claims that this is indeed a minority opinion. Shaarei Muktzeh p. 274 agrees.
      1. Chazon Ish 48:9 proves that everyone agrees if it is a designated place that it creates a bosis. His proof is Beitzah 21b. Ritva Beitzah 21b s.v. gezerah supports this. See however, Shitah Mikubeset Beitzah 21b s.v. vod citing the Raah who has a similar concept.
    2. Tosfot 44b s.v. yesh holds that an item can become a bosis in the middle of Shabbat if it was put there intentionally and then even niyur is forbidden. Ritva 44b s.v. lo yichda and Shitah LRan 44b s.v. lo yichda, 45b s.v. veit agree. Tosfot Beitzah 21b s.v. knuna citing Rabbenu Tam agrees. Shaarei Muktzeh supports this approach from Tosfot 43a s.v. bodan, 44a s.v. dkulei, 51a s.v. oh, 123a s.v. hay, and Beitzah 2a s.v. vbet.
    3. The position of the Ramban, Rashba, Ran, Ritva, and Meiri are that a mid-Shabbat bosis is a bosis that even niyur is forbidden. However, if it was placed with intention to be removed before the end of Shabbat it isn't a bosis and niyur is permitted.
      1. Ramban 143a s.v. vha clarifies that if someone put something in the middle of Shabbat on top of something non-muktzeh the bottom item can't be moved unless the top was only placed there temporarily with intention to remove it through niyur or otherwise. If someone has intention to remove it it isn't a bosis, so niyur is permitted and if you need the place then you can do tiltul min hasad until you reached where you can put it down. This implies that you can create a bosis in the middle of Shabbat. The Rashba 143a s.v. ha, Ritva 143a s.v. mesalek, and Ran 143a s.v. mesalek agree. It isn't clear if you can do niyur on a mid-Shabbat bosis but there is an implication that you can't. Ritva 143a and 44b is very clear even niyur is asur.
      2. Ritva 154b s.v. vha writes that an item isn't a bosis in the middle of Shabbat if the muktzeh was placed on top with intention to be removed and then niyur is permitted.
      3. Ramban 154b s.v. vokimna writes that it is an issue of bitul kli mhechano when a person leaves muktzeh on it on Shabbat even though it is possible to remove it with niyur because you left it with intention to do niyur. Rashba 154b s.v. ha and Ritva s.v. vyesh agree. Ran 154b s.v. bshilfi clearly states that a mid-Shabbat bosis is forbidden in niyur unless the muktzeh was placed with intention of removing it.
      4. Meiri 143a s.v. gariynim and 154b s.v. kvar argues with the Baal Hameor that you can create a bosis in the middle of Shabbat. It isn't clear if he only forbids tiltul min hasad or also niyur. If you didn't leave it there until the end of Shabbat it won't be a bosis.
  12. See Chazon Ish 48:8 and Orchot Shabbat v. 2 pp. 138-9. Magen Avraham 308:50 and 266:14 accepts the Baal Hameor while the Bet Yosef 265:3 does not. Chazon Ish 48:8 writes that the Baal Hameor was rejected. Mishna Brurah 310:26 implies like the Baal Hameor.
  13. Biur Halacha 310:7 s.v. mitah cites the Baal Hameor and says that he would allow tilting the muktzeh off the mid-Shabbat bosis. Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 20 fnt. 195 infers that the Biur Halacha thinks that even the Baal Hameor wouldn't allow tiltul min hasad. Shaarei Muktzeh p. 276 supports this approach in the Baal Hameor.
  14. Certainly the Baal Hameor is lenient since a mid-Shabbat bosis is completely permitted. However, even Ramban 154b, Ran 154b, Ritva 154, Rashba 154b, and Meiri 154b agree that one can tilt it off since one didn't plan to leave it until the end of Shabbat. However, Tosfot 44b s.v. yesh implies that a mid-Shabbat bosis is a bosis even if one had intention to remove it later that Shabbat. Tosfot Beitzah 2a s.v. vbet implies the same if not for Rabbenu Tam's opinion. Rabbi Akiva Eiger 44b is bothered how they explain Gemara 154b. He suggests an answer. Bet Yosef 265:3 similarly holds that a mid-Shabbat bosis is a bosis even if one has intention to remove it later that Shabbat. Maamar Mordechai 265:2 answers Rabbi Akiva Eiger's question for the Bet Yosef.
  15. Taz 310:8, Mishna Brurah 310:37
  16. The Shulchan Aruch 310:8 writes that an object which has on it both a mutkzah item and a non-Muktzeh item is permissible to move if the non-Muktzeh item is more important (חשוב).
  17. Chazon Ovadia v. 3 p. 131 writes that the Chaye Adam 67:8 holds it is forbidden if both are of equal importance against the Aruch Hashulchan 310:15 who is lenient. He sides with those who are lenient because of the Ran Shabbat 47a and Hagahot Maimoniyot 26:7 who imply it is permitted.
  18. Mishna Brurah 310:33 writes that it only depends on the intent of the owner and not the general convention of most people.
  19. Halachos of Muktzah (by Rabbi Bodner, pg 309, answers of Rav Moshe Feinstein #31, to see it inside click here) writes that if a siddur and money are on a vessel the siddur is considered more important, and so too if one has glasses which one needs immediately and a lot of money, the glasses are more important unless one has other glasses in which case the money is more important. Lastly if a loaf of challah and money are on a vessel the challah is more important since you’re going to need it on Shabbat. This is also the opinion of the Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 20:61 in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman that anything which is needed for that Shabbat such as challah or something else of value. [See also Chaye Adam (Shabbat 66:4) and Magen Avraham 279:5 who seem to hold of this.]