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Winter 2010-2011 The Halachos of Snow/Ice Removal

Q) Is it permitted to chop ice on Shabbos?

A) The melocha of Sosair is the mirror opposite melocha of Boneh. Whatver may not beassembled because of Boneh may not be demolished because of Sosair. By Torah law, one maynot disassemble a structure or even part of a structure for the purpose of rebuilding it, as well asfor any constructive purpose (even if not to reuild). However Rabbinically one may not evendemolish or disassemble even for purely destructive purposes or no purpose at all. R' TzviPesach Frank z'l, discussing a case of removing snow/ice from a roof raises the issue thatchopping hard snow/ ice could violate the melacha of Sosair. It could be the ice is consideredattached to the roof and is similar to removing a detachment from a building, a violation ofSosair. (Har Tzvi section on 39 melachos Sossair, based on Magain Avraham cited in the MishnaBerura 320:36 that one is not allowed to chop ice over a river). Most Achronim disagree withthis position and maintain chopping ice is permitted on Shabbos. Based on this, one would bepermitted to chop ice from the sidewalk in front of one's home or shul on Shabbos (Mishna Brura320:36).

Q) Is it permitted to shovel snow on Shabbos? Is it permitted to spread salt on your walkway onShabbos?

In the case of soft snow which has just fallen and has not yet frozen, there is no issue ofSosair as the snow cannot be considered "attached" to the ground. It would be permitted toshovel or sweep away the snow. Hardened or frozen snow may be Halachikally regarded aspart of the surface raising a question of Sosair. Furthermore, some raise the issue of "tircha"as shoveling snow is an exertive activity. (39 Melachos, R' D. Ribiat, p.1098 - footnote 47bin the name of the Lev Avraham 49). Nevertheless even in this case, many poskim permit oneto shovel the snow for Shabbos purposes, particularly if it will be a danger to oneself orothers (people may slip and become seriously injured walking to shul). When possible it isbest to get a non-Jew to do these activities (Piskei Teshuvos, p.231; 39 Melachos, Sosair -note 47d).Salting Ice or Covering With Sand- Issues

clep - Regarding the potential issue of clep, dramatic change, which is normally xeq`epaxc, however when spread on salt the change is not instantaneous. Therefore it isconsidered a `nxb or indirect action and xzen.dpea Usually, a person is not allowed to add a new layer of material to the ground, as it is

considered “building” (similar to laying a new layer of dirt). However, since salt added tothe ground to breakup the ice is temporary in nature {normally opaxc xeq`}- in a place ofpotential xrv (bodily harm) the Rabbis did not prohibit “temporary” dpea.dvwen - In theory, it is better to use table salt, as special ice melting salt has no regular

permitted use on Shabbos, however if these salts are necessary to melt ice (table salt justwon’t work) then you would be permitted since in a place of potential xrv (bodily harm)the Rabbis did not prohibit dvwen either.Spreading Sand - dpea In theory it is preferable to use salt on ice instead of sand fortraction. The reason being since the sand will remain on the sidewalk, the layer of sand isconsidered more of a “permanent form of dpea ”. Others argue that although sand is morepermanent, however since the dirt spread on a concrete sidewalk is undesirable (you want

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it to be washed away) it is no worse than salt.In conclusion, it is permitted to spread salt on snow that has fallen on steps or sidewalkswhere there is a real concern people may slip, even special melting salt (Piskei Teshuvos,Hilchos Shabbos, p.231; Beer Moshe 1:28). If this concern exists and only sand isavailable, one can spread sand as well. However when possible it is better to get anon-Jew to do these activities.

Q) May one make a snowball on Shabbos?

Regarding the issue of whether snow is dvwen is a machlokes between Rav MosheFeinstein z"l and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach z"l. Rav Moshe is cited as saying that snowis muktzah machmas gufo since there is no intrinsic use for snow (R' P. Bodner in SeferTiltulei Shabbos p.165). Rav Shlomo Zalman holds that snow is not muktzah - just like rainthat falls on Shabbos is not muktzah (Shemiras Shabbos K'Hilchosa 16:44 v note 106). Evenif snow is not Muktzah, it is still forbidden to form a snowball on Shabbos because it issimilar to dpea , forming an object on Shabbos (SSK 16:44). Many however hold that if asnowball has already been formed, it is permitted to throw them thereby smashing them.Since they will melt after a time anyway, there is no prohibition of Sosair (R' Shlomo Zalmanin SSK 16:44, footnote 106). One can be lenient for little children (Piskei Teshuvos, HilchosShabbos, p.231).

- A special thank you to R’ Yoni Posnick for his notes on some of these questions

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