The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat, Daf 127 discusses some laws in regard to Muktze. The term ‘Muktze’ refers to items that are forbidden to move on Shabbat. Today we examine the physical movement of a Muktze item. Does the prohibition of moving a Muktze item apply only to movement by one’s hands, or does it apply to movement by any part of the body? Movement by body parts is referred to as ‘Tiltul BiGufo’. Would it be permissible to move a Muktze item on Shabbat by parts of your body other than your hands? For example, would it be permissible to kick a Muktze item?
Halacha answers this question and says ‘Tiltul BiGufo’ is permissible. Moving a Muktze item with parts of the body other than one’s hands on Shabbat is permissible.
We now need to analyze what is the extent of this leniency?
The Chazon Ish is very strict about this, and he says that a person may move a Muktze item on Shabbat with parts other than his hands, only if the purpose is to yield a permissible action. The Chazon Ish holds that it would not be permissible to move a Muktze item with a body part, if the sole purpose lies with the Muktze item itself. For example, according to the Chazon Ish, it would be permissible to kick a box to the side if that box needed to be moved off a pathway. The Chazon Ish proves this opinion from the Gemara, which discusses this exact case and states one is able to kick boxes to the side, in order to clear a pathway enabling entry and exiting of a facility. But just to kick the box over a little for no reason, would be forbidden according to the Chazon Ish.
The Mishna Berura, as well as many Acharonim both Ashkenazim and Sephardim, however argue on this Chazon Ish, and hold that moving a Muktze item on Shabbat with body parts other than one’s hands is permissible under all circumstances. They hold a Muktze item can be moved even if there is no purpose related to permissible functions.
The case of finding money on Shabbat always come up. There is no dispute that money is Muktze and forbidden to move with one’s hands on Shabbat. But what about kicking it off to a corner in order to save it for retrieval later on after Shabbat? According to the Chazon Ish, kicking this money would be forbidden. According to the Mishna Berura, kicking this money would be permissible.
Halacha Lema'ase, Chacham Ovadia Yoseph rules that ‘Tiltul BiGufo’ even LiTzorech Davar HaMuktze, is permissible. Meaning, moving a Muktze item on Shabbat with parts other than one’s hands is permissible under all conditions. Therefore, it is permissible on Shabbat to kick the found money off to the side for retrieval later on after Shabbat.
It should be pointed out that this leniency only applies when movement by the body part is not the normal way to move the item. For example, a ball is Muktze, and it would be forbidden to use one’s feet to move a ball on Shabbat, because kicking it is the normal way to move it around.
