Q. Can you use a metal scrapper to break ice on a path or steps during Shabbath?
A. Mishna Berura (320: 36) quotes Mogen Avrohom's opinion that there is a difference between breaking ice collected on a vessel, which the Shulchan Aruch (ibid. 10) permits and chopping ice that is attached to the ground, where it may be considered building or demolishing. However Mishna Berura mentions that many Poskim disagree and rules that in need the ice can be broken.
There may be also issues of muktze (Shulchan Atzei Shitim and Chasam Sofer, quoted in 39 Melochos 2, Dosh, note 167. Using a scraper would be "tiltul min hatzad", similar to a broom) however, when public safety is a concern, as stated in the previous question, it does not apply.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
