Today we continue our exploration of the rules of Muktzeh – items that cannot be moved on Shabbat. The Rabbis cannot agree on what makes something Muktzeh or not. Some items are obvious – corpses or money – have no legitimate use on Shabbat and should not be moved. But how wide is the category? We get a lot of different opinions about what else is Muktzeh and what is not.

Two categories in particular divide our Sages today: Muktzeh because of repugnance and Muktzeh because of prohibition. Muktzeh because of repugnance arises because we should not handle gross things on Shabbat. Rabbis who recognize Muktzeh because of repugnance do not allow us to handle used clay lamps, even with no flame, on Shabbat. Used clay lamps apparently become discolored and full of residual deposits. Metal lamps and new clay lamps do not have this issue.

Muktzeh by prohibition primarily relates to something that was designated prior to Shabbat for a prohibited use. For instance, we may light a small lamp prior to Shabbat. Since it is small, we know that it does not have enough oil to last all of Shabbat. Once it goes out, if you buy Muktzeh by prohibition, we still cannot move it. If you do not buy Muktzeh by prohibition, then the lamp is movable once it is not burning.

Much of the Daf discusses a bed we designate for storing money. I suppose this relates to the proverbial mattress under which we stash our life’s savings. We get a lot of debate about whether or not we can move this bed on Shabbat. Does it matter if the money was moved by a non-Jew? Does it matter if we intend to use the bed this way but we have not yet? Does it matter if we did not intend to use the bed this way and we happen over time to use it for money? Does it matter if we previously used the bed this way but no longer do?

As of this point in our study, I am unsure what the rules are. We see a diversity of opinions about what can and can’t be moved and why. Perhaps later this will all be clarified. Knowing the Talmud, perhaps not. I wonder how modern, Shabbat-observant Jews handle this debate. I also wonder what they do when faced with a new situation.