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Shabbos Chapter 20, Mishnah 5: Shabbos Perek Chaf Mishnah Hey

Chavrusa Learning

Shabbos, Chapter 20, Mishnah 5. Our mishnah deals with two subjects: moving straw that is lying on a bed, and the law of the press on Shabbos.

The straw on the bed:

The mishnah opens: "Hakash she'al gabei hamitah - lo yena'a'no beyado, ela mena'a'no begufo" - straw that is on the bed may not be shaken with one's hand, but he may shake it with his body. Ordinary straw is designated for use as fuel, and for that reason it is muktzeh, since there is no possibility of burning it on Shabbos. Therefore, someone who wishes to lie down on the straw spread out on his bed may not move it with his hand, but he may move it with his body - since this is indirect movement, which is permitted even with an item that is muktzeh.

Two cases remove the straw from this category: "Ve'im hayah ma'achal behemah, o shehayah alav kar o sadin - mena'a'no beyado" - if it was animal fodder, or if a cushion or a sheet was on it, he may shake it with his hand:

  • "Ma'achal behemah" - the straw was designated to serve as food for an animal.

  • "O shehayah alav kar o sadin" - a cushion or a mattress was placed on it, items that people sleep on.

In both of these cases it has been demonstrated that the straw is not intended for fuel but for sleeping, and therefore "mena'a'no beyado" - he may move it even with his hand.

The press:

The mishnah continues: "Machbesh shel ba'alei batim - matirin, aval lo kovshin" - a press belonging to householders may be released, but one may not press with it. The press was used for pressing clothing, similar to dry cleaning in our times. The mishnah is speaking here of a press belonging to householders - a domestic rather than a professional utensil: if clothes are lying inside it, one may release it and take them out. However, it is forbidden to press clothes in it on Shabbos, since the pressing continues for some time, and it turns out that he is doing something on Shabbos for the sake of after Shabbos.

"Veshel kovsin - lo yiga bo" - and the press of launderers may not be touched at all. Even if clothes are lying inside it, one is not permitted to release it, and there are two reasons for this:

  1. The press is fastened very tightly, and releasing it resembles breaking the utensil and even looks like it.

  2. According to some of the explanations, it is muktzeh because of monetary loss: this is a utensil about which the craftsman is very particular, and utensils about which a craftsman is particular may not be moved on Shabbos.

The view of Rabbi Yehudah:

"Rabbi Yehudah omer: im hayah mutar me'erev Shabbos - matir es kulo veshomto" - Rabbi Yehudah says: if it was already released before Shabbos, he may release it completely and slip the garment out. Even with the professional press, if it was already released before Shabbos, he may release it entirely and slip the garment out of it.

In summary: in this mishnah we learned that straw on a bed is muktzeh because it is designated for fuel, and therefore one moves it with his body and not with his hand; and if he designated it for animal fodder or placed a cushion or a sheet on it, he may move it even with his hand. We also learned that a press belonging to householders may be released but one may not press with it, whereas a press belonging to launderers may not be touched at all - because of the appearance of breaking the utensil and because it is muktzeh due to monetary loss - and according to Rabbi Yehudah, if it was already released before Shabbos, he may release it completely and slip the garment out.