Straw on a bed [is generally used as fuel, so that if one wishes to move it around so that it be soft and comfortable for sleeping upon], he should not move it with his hand, [for it is muktzeh], but he should move it with his body, [with his shoulders, for this is "moving from the side," which is not regarded as (interdicted) moving.] But if it had been designated as animal food, or if there were a mattress or a sheet on it, [in which instance it is clear that the straw had been placed there for lying upon, its status is that of a (movable) item, and], he may move it with his hand. A home clothes press — it is permitted to remove [clothing from it for Sabbath use], but not to press [clothing thereon, this being a weekday function]; and a washerman's clothes press — it may not be touched. [For it is used to straighten clothing and is pressed down very tightly, so that removing clothing therefrom is like stirah ("razing")]. R. Yehudah says: If it were (partially) opened from Sabbath eve, he may open the whole and take it (his clothing) out. [The halachah is not in accordance with R. Yehudah.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
הקש שעל מטה – merely for kindling and it is Muktzeh/something set aside/designated for weekday use only and when he comes to lie on it and moves it about in order to be soft and looks to lie on it.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
Introduction
The first section of this mishnah discusses clearing things off one’s bed in order to sleep on it. The second section deals with removing clothes from a “clothes press.” A “clothes press” was made by placing a piece of clothing between two boards and then fastening them together.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
לא ינענענו בידיו – for it is Muktzeh but he may move it with his body [or] his shoulders, for it is carrying from the side, and it is not called carrying.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
The straw [lying] upon a bed one may not move it with his hand, but he may move it with his body. Straw is usually used for lighting a stove and hence it is muktzeh. If this straw is on her bed she can’t just remove it with her hand. However, she may move the bed with her body and thereby cause the straw to fall off. “Carrying” with the side of one’s body is not considered carrying and therefore this is permitted.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
או שהיה עליו כר או סדין – for he revealed his intention that he set it aside for sleeping so from now it has the status of a utensil.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
But if it is animal feed, or a pillow or a sheet was upon it [on the eve of Shabbat], he may move it with his hand. If the straw had been designated to serve as animal feed, then it is not muktzeh and she may remove it by hand. We see here that something is defined to be that which it is intended to be used for if it is intended to be used for something permitted on Shabbat, then it is not muktzeh. Furthermore, if she set the bed aside for sleeping (as opposed to using it to store things) by placing on it a pillow or sheet, then she may move the straw even though it was set aside to light a fire. It was only forbidden if it was unclear whether the bed was going to be used for storage or for sleeping.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
מכבש – two boards that they place the clothes between them after laundering them and they fasten the upper board on the clothing that are lying on the lower board, in order that they fold nicely.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
A householder’s clothes press one may undo it, but not force it down. But a launderer’s [press] one may not touch it. Rabbi Judah says: if it was undone before Shabbat, one may unfasten the whole and remove it. A “householder’s clothes press” is not an item used by a professional. Therefore, one may undo it, meaning take the clothes out, but not put the clothes in. Putting clothes in the clothes press is considering “fixing” them, and “fixing” is forbidden on Shabbat. A launderer’s press is a professional piece of equipment. Hence one may not touch it at all on Shabbat. This is forbidden because of “tearing down” by taking it apart it is as if she is “tearing down.” Rabbi Judah, however, is more lenient. If the launderer’s press was already somewhat unfastened before Shabbat, she may take the rest of the press apart and take the clothes out. Since it was already not fully closed up, this is not considered “tearing down.”
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
מתירין – that is for the needs of the Sabbath to take the clothing, but we do not press/tighten them for that is a need of the weekdays.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
ושל כובסים לא יגע בו – because it is made to repair clothing and fasten them more , and loosening them is similar to tearing down/destroying and the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yehuda..
