Under what circumstances is it permissible to move a Mukseh object on Shabbat indirectly, as opposed to moving it directly with his hands?
Regarding the laws of Mukseh, Halacha distinguishes between three different methods of moving objects:
1) "Negi’a Be’yadayim" – moving an object directly with one’s hands. This is, of course, forbidden; one may not move a Mukseh item directly with his hands on Shabbat.
2) "Tiltul Min Ha’sad" – moving an object indirectly with one’s hands. An example would be taking a permissible object, such as a stick or a knife, and using that object to move a Mukseh item. Halacha allows moving a Mukseh item in this fashion, provided that one does not do so for the purpose of protecting that item. Thus, for example, it is permissible to use a knife to push nutshells off the table into a trashcan. Nutshells are Mukseh on Shabbat and may not be moved directly, but one may move them indirectly, such as with a knife, if his intention is to make room on the table. One may not, however, move money with a stick to a safe place on Shabbat. In this case, his intention is to protect the Mukseh item, and therefore moving it is forbidden even if one does this indirectly.
3) "Tiltul Be’gufo" – moving an object with a part of the body other than one’s hand. Halacha allows moving Mukseh items on Shabbat if he does not use his hands, even if his intention is to protect the item. Therefore, if one finds money on the floor on Shabbat, he may kick it with his feet to a safe place. The exception to this rule is an object that is normally moved in that manner. For example, a soccer ball is normally moved with one’s foot, and it is therefore forbidden to kick a soccer ball on Shabbat, even though one does not use his hands.
(These Halachot are based on Shulhan Aruch – Orah Haim 311:8)
Summary: One may move a Mukseh item with a part of one’s body other than his hands (such as kicking money to a safe place) unless this is the normal way that item is handled (as in the case of a soccer ball). One may hold a permissible item in his hand and use it to move a Mukseh item, unless his intention is to protect that Mukseh item. Thus, one may use a stick to move nutshells off the table, but not to move money to a safe place.
