Snow on Shabbos: Boneh & Tircha

Q. In addition to the concerns of carrying, muktza, and demolishing, which were addressed in previous installments of Halacha Yomis, are there any other concerns regarding snow removal on Shabbos?

A. Yes, there are in fact two more issues:

Some prohibit snow shoveling because of mashveh gumos (leveling the ground – a form of boneh, building) (The 39 Melachos, Vol. 4 p. 1098 c). However, Sefer Nishmas Shabbos (4:247) rules that this does not apply to surfaces covered indoors by wood, tile, carpet, or linoleum and outdoors by cement or asphalt.

Other poskim consider snow shoveling to be forbidden under the category of tircha yiseira (excessive strain) because it is a very laborious activity (The 39 Melachos, quoting Shu”t Lev Avraham Siman 49). The Nishmas Shabbos (ibid.) rules leniently in this regard because tircha is permitted for a mitzvah. Since shoveling the snow prevents people from slipping and falling on the snow and ice, it is considered tircha done for the sake of a mitzvah.

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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.