Occasionally, a person wearing a long overcoat outdoors will lift the bottom of the coat when he walks through a puddle or pile of snow. Is this permissible while walking in a public domain on Shabbat?
Of course, carrying items in a public domain (where there is no Eruv) is forbidden on Shabbat, though garments – including overcoats – may be worn in a public domain on Shabbat. In the case described above, most of the coat is worn on the pedestrian's body, but he carries the bottom portion of the coat. Would this constitute carrying and thus be forbidden on Shabbat, or is the garment considered worn even while the individual lifts the hem?
The Halachic authorities permit lifting the bottom of one's garment while walking on Shabbat, provided that the majority of the garment is being worn, and not carried. Once the majority of the garment is worn on the body, we consider the entire garment as being worn such that lifting the bottom area would not constitute carrying. (See Shulchan Aruch, siman 301:31.) The Mishna Berura (ibid, S’K 118) (commentary to the Shulhan Aruch by Rabbi Yisrael Kagan, the "Hafetz Hayim," Lithuania, 1839-1933) applies this Halacha even in cases where one wears the coat over his shoulders, without inserting his arms in the sleeves. This manner of wearing an overcoat suffices for us to consider the individual wearing, rather than carrying, the coat, even if he lifts and carries the hem as he walks. (See Menuhat Ahava, Helek 3, page 324.)
Summary: A person walking with a long overcoat in a public domain on Shabbat may lift the bottom portion of the coat and hold it as he walks through puddles or snow.
