Taking a dead fish out of a fish tank

Hi,

One may remove a dead fish from a tank, where its presence harms the other fish. However, one may not filter the fish from the rest of the contents, so one must take out water with it.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:239)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fetch!

Hi,

One may not instruct his dog to go outside and bring in an object, where the space is not enclosed by an eruv. This is part of the law requiring that our animals rest on Shabbat.

There is room to contend that where an animal brings in an object on its own, one may use the object. However, there are grounds to prohibit as well, both in terms of having one's animal perform a prohibited act on Shabbat, and in terms of marit ayin (the appearance of wrongdoing).

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:231)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Moving a fish tank on Shabbos

Hi,

We have a portable fish tank, which we move around from time to time. May we move it on Shabbos?

Animals which have no function are muktzeh on Shabbos. [Halachic authorities note that service animals are a separate class.] A fish tank is considered a base for the fish, and so a fish tank is as muktzeh as the creatures it contains.

There is also a second halachic concern involved in handling animals, in that one may not ride on animals or otherwise make use of their bodies.

Many halachic authorities agree that the above two concerns are not relevant in the case of a fish tank. Fish are meant to be admired and portable tanks are normally moved, and so there is no concern for muktzeh. There certainly is no concern for "riding" a fish. Therefore, many authorities permit moving a portable tank. Rav Ovadia Yosef permits moving the tank only where the fish are in danger of pain or death, such as from cold or direct sunlight.

(Shabbos 128b; Beitzah 38b; Shut Or Zarua 81-82; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 308:39-40; Mishneh Berurah 308:146; Ketzos haShulchan 121:fn 4; Yabia Omer 5:Orach Chaim 26; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 18:fn 62, 27:fn 96; Az Nidbiru 8:37:2)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Leading animals on Shabbos

Hi,

We have said that live animals are muktzeh, and we don't handle muktzeh entities on Shabbat. Nonetheless, one may lead an animal in an enclosed yard or in a street that is within an eruv enclosure, while holding on to the animal itself, if remaining indoors would be painful for the animal.

(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 308:66)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Status of live animals on Shabbos

Hi,

Live animals are muktzeh, since one cannot 'use' them for any practical purpose on Shabbat; petting them is not considered 'use' in any practical sense. This includes domesticated pets.

One may handle these animals in certain ways for their own benefit, though, as I expect to explain during the next few days.

(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 308:65)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fishbowls on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not move fishbowls on Shabbat. The fish inside are muktzeh, and the bowl is their designated location.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:16)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Feeding birds on Shabbat

Hi,

May I feed wild birds on Shabbat Shirah?

There is an old custom of leaving grain or bread for birds on Shabbat Shirah. Some suggest it is a reward for their song at the Sea; others link it to the way the birds ate the false manna dispersed by Dasan and Aviram on Shabbat.

Some oppose this practice, insisting that food be left out before Shabbat. This is because the sages forbade feeding wild animals on Shabbat (1) because there may be strain involved and (2) because one might forget the laws of Shabbat and trap these creatures. They permitted only feeding domesticated animals which depend on us for food.

Other authorities defend the practice of putting out food on Shabbat Shirah, arguing that there is no strain involved and that the birds are beyond trapping when the food is placed outside. Further, we are doing it not for the birds' sake, but for the sake of our own custom.

(Maharam Lublin to Beitzah 23b; Magen Avraham 324:7; Tosefes Shabbos 324:17; Mishneh Berurah 324:31; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 324:3; Tzitz Eliezer 14:28)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Feeding animals, Part II

Hi,

We have said that one must feed animals that are in his care.

On Shabbat, though, one who feeds animals must take care to avoid:
1. Personally performing melachah [prohibited tasks], such as sifting or measuring the food, or trapping the animal;
2. Setting up his animal to eat muktzeh items, such as grass that was uprooted on Shabbat, lest one forget and handle the muktzeh items himself;
3. Strenuous activity.

(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 324)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Feeding animals, Part I

Hi,

A Jew is obligated to feed any wild animal, domestic animal, or bird, which relies on him for food and which he raises in his home. However, a person need not strain himself if the animal does not depend on him for food, as he does not raise the animal.

(Aruch haShulchan, Orach Chaim 324:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai