To carry or not to carry? The answers may be complex

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

Q:

I left my house in my neighborhood development to go to shul Shabbos morning as usual, and then met a neighbor who informed me that the eiruv was down. What should I have done with my siddur? Dropped it?

A:

In all likelihood, your neighbor shared this information with you after you had already stopped walking. Since you may not start to walk again while carrying the siddur, your best option is to wait until a non-Jew or a child under six walks by (or ask someone who is passing by to call them), and then instruct them to carry the siddur to the closet safe place available. If this option isn’t practical, then you may carry the siddur with a shinui, e.g., put it underneath your shirt, and walk to the closest safe place and leave the siddur there.

In retrospect, it’s questionable if your neighbor did the right and smart thing by informing you of the eiruv breakdown. For reasons beyond the scope of this article, it’s sometimes better to remain discreet about an eiruv that was discovered on Shabbos as being invalid, especially in the scenario described in this question. Since every case and situation is different, a sh’eilah should always be asked before notifying people about a downed eiruv on Shabbos.

Q:

My brother doesn’t use our city’s eiruv, but he lets his wife use it. Where does this discrepancy come from?

A:

There are many different views and opinions when it comes to the validity of a citywide eiruv, and it is quite difficult to find an eiruv that is perfect according to all views. Thus, some people accept upon themselves not to use a citywide eiruv at all, especially since they can easily get along without using it. But since doing so is a personal stringency, not a requirement, some people accept the stringency on themselves but still permit their family members to follow the basic halachah that permits using the eiruv, especially if the family members have a greater need for it.

Q:

I’ve never understood why walking with my baby’s carriage constitutes carrying. I’m just pushing the carriage.

A:

“Carrying” means transferring an item from one halachic domain to another, or moving it more than seven feet in a public street. It makes no difference if the transfer is being done via your hands, inside your pockets, or with the force of your body.

Q:

My husband prefers we don’t use any eiruv, but it gets sticky when we go to my parents and they ask me to carry something, as they do use their city’s eiruv.

A:

In general, once you’re married, you need to follow your husband’s halachic rulings. If your husband’s rav ruled that the eiruv is totally invalid and may not be used, then you will need to tell your parents that you can’t carry for them. If, however, the rav ruled that the eiruv is kosher, but your husband’s preference is not to use it for himself, then you should try to fulfill your parent’s request to carry for them.

Q:

I’m from L.A. and traveled to the East Coast this past winter to visit a relative in the hospital. As I dressed up warmly for my walk to the hospital, I realized there was no eiruv there and perhaps there’s a problem with my extra winter wear like gloves, scarf, earmuffs.

A:

Scarfs and earmuffs may be worn in cold weather according to all opinions, for both men and women. Some poskim hold that unless it’s extremely cold weather, gloves shouldn’t be worn by men outside the eiruv, since men commonly remove their gloves when shaking hands in greeting an acquaintance in the street. But since women generally don’t remove their gloves when greeting other woman, it’s permitted for them to wear gloves outside the eiruv.

Q:

During the summer I often wear a pair of sunglasses on top of my sheitel, sliding them over my eyes when needed. Is this a problem if I’m walking between two bungalow colony eiruvs? What about reading glasses? Can those be worn outside the eiruv?

A:

There are a number of halachos associated with wearing glasses on Shabbos outside the eiruv. Although prescription eyeglasses required for distance vision may be worn in the regular manner, reading glasses, which are worn only when one needs to read, may not be worn outside of the eiruv (unless they are needed for reading a street sign or other directions). Bifocals and progressive bifocals, which are used for both reading and distance vision, may be worn without restriction.

Nonprescription sunglasses (including clip-ons) may not be worn. If you have a medical condition that requires you to wear sunglasses outdoors, then it’s permitted for you to wear them while you’re in the country.

Prescription glasses for distance with photochromic lenses (lenses that automatically darken when exposed to sunlight), are permitted to be worn without restriction.

Q:

Last summer we joined a new bungalow colony and I was anxious that I may accidentally wander outside the eiruv with my baby carriage. What would I do in such a case?

A:

If that happens, as soon as you realize that you are outside the eiruv, don’t stop walking for even a moment, but rather turn around and quickly return to the eiruv area, making sure not to stop until you’re safely back inside the eiruv area.

Q:

Can you clarify what’s the difference between Shabbos and Yom Tov? Why may we carry on Yom Tov, but not on Shabbos?

A:

Since anything to do with food preparation is permitted on Yom Tov, and since it’s common for people to share ingredients or cooked food with their families and neighbors, the Torah permitted carrying food or ingredients, or anything else which is necessary for oneg Yom Tov, to be carried on Yom Tov. But it’s only permitted to carry food and other items which will be enjoyed on that same day. It’s forbidden to carry any items on the first day of Yom Tov if it will only be used on the second day of Yom Tov (unless the second day is Shabbos and an eiruv tavshilin was made). It is also forbidden on Yom Tov to carry (outside the eiruv) something for no reason at all, so if, for example, you have a used tissue in your pocket, you must remove it before walking outside the eiruv on Yom Tov.

Q:

My mother has difficulty with steps and needs support going up to our house. If both my sons are supporting her on each side, is that considered carrying?

A:

No, that isn’t considered carrying. The rule is that a live person who can walk is considered “carrying himself” even though she needs assistance and support to help her with her walking.

Is wearing a beret on top of my sheitel for fashion reasons a problem of carrying?

Anything worn for the sake of adornment or style, is considered a tachshit and is permitted to be worn outside the eiruv.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 946)