Q. Regarding a recent shiur given by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a addressing shailos in snow related activities during Shabbos, it is worthwhile to present them to the many readers of this forum worldwide.
Is snow muktza in Shabbos and can one shovel it to clear a path and be able to exit and enter one's domain?
A. Shulchan Aruch (338: 8) and Mishna Berura (ibid. 30) permit the use of rain water collected during Shabbos, as long as it is clean and fit to use. Most Poskim maintain that the same applies to snow (Mekor Chaim 320: 11, Eishel Avrohom (312), Shemiras Shabbos K' (16: 44) and others.
However, Igros Moshe (O. H. 5: 22) maintains that snow is different and there is an inherent nolad prohibition on it. Tiltulei Shabbos quoting RS"Z Auerbach zt'l suggests that snow in our days should be considered muktza, since it does not have any use and should be like stones and dirt. Nevertheless. Poskim are lenient, since people play with it and shovel it too. (Piskei Teshuvos 338: n. 144).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it is not muktza. Therefore, one is allowed to shovel a path during Shabbos when in need. The Rov added that when there is no eruv, one can still shovel the snow just to the immediate close by area, but not when it is taken out from one domain to another or when it piles up over ten tefachim (1 m.) high.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
