Shabbos Snowfall

OU Kosher

Q. A heavy snowfall, which fell on Shabbos, is covering the walkway to my house. May I shovel the snow on Shabbos?

A. Poskim discuss and disagree about a number of issues that may apply to shoveling snow on Shabbos. These are:

  • Carrying
  • Muktza (One must consider if there is a distinction between snow that fell before or on Shabbos.) Also, is the shovel muktza?
  • Sosair (destroying), particularly if the snow is frozen
  • Boneh (building) because of mashveh gumos (leveling the ground )
  • Tircha yesaira (excessive exertion)
  • Zilzul Shabbos (degradation of Shabbos)

In this installment and the next few Halacha Yomis’, we will analyze each consideration.

The question of shoveling snow which fell on Shabbos is generally relevant only in an area where there is an eiruv. A properly built eiruv permits carrying more than four amos (aprox. 6-8 ft.) when one is outside. If there is a life threatening situation (for example, a woman in labor must walk down snow-covered stairs to an ambulance), shoveling would be justifiable under all circumstances. Rabbi Frand, Shlita shared that in some localities Hatzalah members are told by their poskim to wear their Hatzalah vests so people will understand that they are shoveling the snow on Shabbos because of a medical emergency and they are dealing with a pikuch nefesh situation.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.