DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 574 KB)
Is it Permissible to Carry a Child While He is Holding a Mukse Object?

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 309:1) rules that it is forbidden on Shabbat to carry a young child who is holding in his hand an item that is considered Mukse (forbidden to move on Shabbat). For example, a ball is considered Mukse for adults, but is permissible to be handled by children. While a child holds a ball in his hand, it is forbidden for an adult to carry the child on Shabbat. The same applies if the child holds in his hand a pen, a coin or a dollar bill. If a child holds a Mukse item in his hand, then an adult who carries the child is considered as though he carries the Mukse item, and this is therefore forbidden.

The Shulhan Aruch adds that if the Mukse item is an object of value, such as if the child holds a $20 bill in his hand, then one may not even walk the child by holding his hand. The Sages were concerned that if one holds the child’s hand, and the valuable object drops, the adult may pick the item off the ground, in violation of Shabbat. They therefore forbade even holding a child’s hand while he holds a valuable Mukse object.

The Kaf Ha’haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939) writes that there is room to be lenient in this regard under extenuating circumstances. If, for example, the child is crying, frightened or for some other reason desperately needs to be held, and he refuses to put down the Mukse object, then one may carry the child. Under normal situations, however, one may not carry a child while he holds a Mukse object.

Summary: It is forbidden on Shabbat to carry a child while he holds in his hand a Mukse object, and if the Mukse object is valuable, one may not even hold the child’s hand. This is permissible only under extenuating circumstances, such as when a child is frightened and refuses to let go of the object.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Halachic Status of Non-Jewish Brandy, and of Wine Containing Other Ingredients
The Status of Wine Touched by a Non-Jewish Child; The Status of Products that May Have Been Mixed with Non-Jewish Wine
Setam Yenam – The Severity of the Prohibition Against Non-Jewish Wine
Setam Yenam – The Prohibition Against Drinking the Wine of Non-Jews
To What Temperature Must Wine be Heated to be Considered “Mebushal”?
The Status of Utensils Used by a Gentile for Cooking
Does the Prohibition of “Bishul Akum” Apply to Tuna Fish?
May One Eat Food Cooked by a Non-Jew if a Jew Kindled the Fire?
Eating Dairy at a Meat Meal Six Hours After Eating Meat; Starting a Dairy Meal Within Six Hours of Eating Meat
What is the Status of Parve Food Cooked in a Meat or Dairy Pot?
Converting Meat Utensils Into Dairy Utensils Through Hag’ala
May One Eat Fish with Milk or Other Dairy Products?
Kashrut of a Giraffe
Selling a Gid Ha'nashe to a Gentile, and Using it to Stitch the Parchment of a Sefer Torah
Washing One's Hands in Between Fish and Meat; Drinking Water Immediately After Eating Fish
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found