Why should it be muter to return my machzor when not safe to leave it in shul?

In last week’s shiur we wrote that if one feels that the machzor will not be safe to leave in shul it may be brought home. Why is that? If it is ossur to carry when you don’t need it, it should be ossur to carry home. Why does the loss of the machzor entitle you to carry it home?

We find two reasons in the poskim, ñåôå îùåí úçéìúå and to prevent tza’ar on Yom Tov.

Can you please explain ñåôå îùåí úçéìúå?

Obviously one may carry a machzor to shul on Yom Tov, even without an eruv, because it is necessary for Yom Tov and is a mitzvah. If one was prohibited from carrying the machzor home after shul as it is not safe to leave it in shul, one might not take it to shul in the first place. Based on that, Chazal permitted taking it home i.e. they permitted ñåôå îùåí úçéìúå, the last part (taking it home) so that you will bring it to shul (úçéìúå) in the first place. [1]

Where else do we apply this rule?

The Oruch haShulchan writes [2] that machzorim, tallitot and other seforim may be returned home after use. Nevertheless, it is preferable to find a safe place in shul rather than carry them home. [3]

It appears that this heter only applies to mitzvah items and yet it makes sense that if one carries a pot of soup through reshus harabim to eat in another home and for whatever reason one cannot leave the pot there, one may carry it home for the same reason - ñåôå îùåí úçéìúå, the mitzvah of eating and enjoying Yom Tov.

May I carry a key to a safety deposit box without an eruv?

Offhand we would say definitely not, because the contents are not used on Yom Tov and one is only carrying the key to prevent a monetary loss. However, the Rama writes [4] one may carry without an eruv to prevent a loss and the poskim explain that this too is oneg Yom Tov, because leaving the key at home causes worry and distress and to enjoy Yom Tov one may carry it around.

Other poskim disagree [5] saying one may only carry for ochel nefesh, a mitzvah or other Yom Tov necessities and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, [6] amongst others, prohibits it. The Mishna Berura writes [7] that it is correct to be stringent, adding that if one can leave the key at home with a reliable person, all poskim agree that the key may not be carried. The Oruch haShulchan [8] however writes that people are lenient and carry.

So is there reason to be stringent with one’s house key?

No there is not, because ochel nefesh and many other issues take place at home and carrying a key enables these issues. [9]

May I carry a tissue “in case” I need it?

The Taz writes that one may sport a knife throughout Yom Tov, even after eating one’s meals, in the event that one finds a fruit that requires cutting etc. [10] It is also common to need a tissue even if you don’t have a cold and better to have a tissue just in case. [11]

May I carry food through reshus harabim to feed an animal?

Are you permitted to perform a melacha for an animal? The answer is no. The Torah says äåà ìáãå éòùä ìëí, you may do melachos for ochel nefesh for yourselves - ìëí, not for your dog. You may not cook, separate, light a fire or carry for your animal. Consequently, you must ensure that you have food ready for your animal just like Shabbos and not do anything for the animal that should not be done on Shabbos.

May I handle muktze for ochel nefesh?

The Rama writes [12] one may handle muktze for ochel nefesh, for example, to remove ash from an oven to bake or cook. One may move muktze stones or sticks covering fruit and vegetables. [13]

The Chayei Adam writes [14] that if a key to a drawer containing food and fruit is in a box with money, one may handle the box and the money to get the key.

What about using muktze for ochel nefesh?

The Rama writes [15] one may use a stick set aside (or at least can be used) for firewood as a skewer to roast meat, but one may not use a damp stick that cannot be used for firewood, because it is muktze. We see that using muktze is not the same as handling muktze. Consequently one may not eat or benefit from muktze. [16]