Q) May I open a kitchen cupboard door that has a bin hanging on the inside of it on Shabbat?
A) The Orchot Shabbat (vol. 2 page 154) debates whether or not this case is similar to the situation described by the Gemara (Shabbat 120b) that rules that if a person lights his candles for Shabbat on a door, he may not open and close the door on Shabbat because the oil will move around either enlarging or extinguishing the flame, both of which are prohibited on Shabbat. The Mishnah Berurah points out that there would not be an issue of basis l’davar ha’asur since the door is considered important given that is part of the house and subsequently batel towards the house and not to the candles.
On the one hand, the principal purpose of the cupboard door is to hold the bin and therefore a basis l’davar ha’asur and consequently one may not open it on Shabbat. Conversely, one could argue that the door is an integral part of the kitchen design and therefore batel to the house and one would be permitted to open it.
In conclusion, the Orchot Shabbat brings a practical solution to avoid this problem: Before Shabbat, one should empty the bin and be careful not to place any waste that is considered mukzeh into the bin. Once Shabbat has commenced an article that is not mukzeh (for example, a disposable cup) should be placed inside, thus, when a mukzeh article is subsequently placed inside, the bin is considered a basis l’davar ha’mutar ul’davar ha’asur and is one is permitted to move it.
However, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach argues that since the principle purpose of the bin is for waste one cannot change the status of the bin by placing a non-mukzeh article inside it, and it remains a basis l’davar ha’asur.
Likewise, the sefer Shmirat Shabbat C’Hilchato only permits opening such a door if the cupboard is used to store other items apart from the bin.
Opening a cupboard door with a bin on the inside
Leave a Reply