[Avodah] The MB and Spiders

[Prof. Levine]

At 11:01 AM 11/22/2010, R. Micha wrote:
>On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 03:49:35PM -0500, Prof. Levine wrote:
> > The following is from today's Hakhel Email Bulletin:
> >> 1.  The Mishna Berura notes that there is a misconception among some
> >> that spiders can be dangerous to humans and that killing them is
> >> permissible on Shabbos.  This, he writes, is not true, and they are
> >> not to be treated as snakes or scorpions.

> > I sent the following to the editor of this bulletin.
> > WADR to the MB, please see
> > http://www.termite.com/spider-identification.html ...

>But in practice, the odds of anyone one of us finding a dangerous
>spider in our homes and needing to kill it on Shabbos is minimal...

Here is what today's Hakhel Email Bulletin says about this issue.

Special Note One: In a note last Erev Shabbos, we pointed out that
spiders are not considered to be dangerous and are not put into the
dangerous snake and scorpion category, which would allow them to be
killed on Shabbos. Rather, the Chofetz Chaim teaches, one can cover
the food so that the spiders stay away (or try to remove the spider webs
during Erev Shabbos cleaning). A reader cautioned that while this may be
true of the traditional house spider, his research indicates that there
are several other kinds of spiders who are quite dangerous -- including
the Brown Recluse Spider, Black Widow Spider, Mouse Spider, and Black
House Spider. Accordingly, one should consult with his Rav as to how
to treat insects and creatures with which he is not otherwise familiar.
Of course, if there is doubt as to Pikuach Nefesh one always immediately
errs to the side of saving his life.

YL