[Avodah] Is an Esrog Muktza on Shabbos

[Prof. L. Levine]

>From today's OU kosher Halacha Yomis


Q. This year, the first day of Sukkos is Shabbos, and there is no mitzvah of lulav and esrog. Can I show my neighbor my beautiful esrog, or is it muktza?

Q. Shulchan Aruch (OC 658:2) writes that a lulav is muktzah on Shabbos. Since there is no mitzvah of lulav and esrog on Shabbos, a lulav serves no purpose, and it is mukztah like other tree branches. However, an esrog may be moved, since it has a function; one may smell the fruit. (There is a dispute if the beracha on fragrances is recited when smelling an esrog on Sukkos, since the primary function of an esrog on Sukkos is for the mitzvah of lulav and esrog and not for fragrance. To avoid the uncertainty of reciting a beracha, the Shulchan Aruch recommends not smelling an esrog on Sukkos. Nonetheless the Mishnah Berurah (658:5) writes there is no restriction to smell an esrog on Shabbos and recite a beracha, because there is no mitzvah on that day.) Since, it has a function, it is not muktza, and it may be moved for any purpose. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso 22: note 62) writes that today, since people are protective of their esrogim and will not pass them around to be smelled, they are categorized as “muktza machmas chisaron kis” (expensive or delicate items that are generally stored in a safe location), which may not be moved for any reason on Shabbos. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 308:17) appears to rule this way as well.

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