Why a Level 4 dedicated to the Alter Rebbe? The Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe is not a commentary on the Mechaber — it is an autonomous and complete Shulchan Aruch, written by the Alter Rebbe. Its uniqueness: it combines halacha + ta'amei ha-mitzvos + inner dimension in one work, and rules with unique Talmudic rigor.
For Chabad, the Alter Rebbe is ha-posek ha-acharon. This page brings together, for siman רע״ט, the full text of the Rav, his originality, and the divrei ha-Rebbe that illuminate the topic.
→ Read the general introduction on the shittah of the Alter Rebbe
שלחן ערוך הרב — סימן רע״ט
The Full Text of the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe (שולחן ערוך הרב)
סימן רע״ט — דִּינֵי טִלְטוּל הַנֵּר בְּשַׁבָּת — וּבוֹ ט סְעִיפִים
Source: Kehot edition, as reproduced on Sefaria. 9 seifim + 1 entry of Kuntress Acharon.
סעיף א דִּינֵי טִלְטוּל הַנֵּר בְּשַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ט' סְעִיפִים: נֵר שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם וְדָלַק עַד…
דִּינֵי טִלְטוּל הַנֵּר בְּשַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ט' סְעִיפִים:
נֵר שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם וְדָלַק עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁחָשֵׁכָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּבָה אַחַר כָּךְ אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ כָּל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ אֲפִלּוּ לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ אוֹ לְצֹרֶךְ מְקוֹמוֹ וְאֵינוֹ דוֹמֶה לִשְׁאָר כְּלִי שֶׁמְּלַאכְתּוֹ לְאִסּוּר שֶׁמֻּתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ אוֹ לְצֹרֶךְ מְקוֹמוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן ש״ח לְפִי שֶׁבְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת כְּשֶׁהָיָה הַנֵּר דּוֹלֵק הָיָה אָסוּר בְּטִלְטוּל אֲפִלּוּ לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ וּמְקוֹמוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה בָּסִיס לְשַׁלְהֶבֶת הַדּוֹלֶקֶת בּוֹ שֶׁהִיא מֻקְצֶה וְנַעֲשָׂה הַנֵּר מֻקְצֶה כָּמוֹהָ וּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁבְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת שֶׁהוּא תְּחִלַּת כְּנִיסַת הַשַּׁבָּת הָיָה מֻקְצֶה מִדַּעַת הָאָדָם שֶׁהִקְצָהוּ מִדַּעְתּוֹ כְּשֶׁהִדְלִיק בּוֹ וַעֲשָׂאוֹ בָּסִיס לְדָבָר (הָאָסוּר) הַמֻּקְצֶה הֻקְצָה לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן ש״י.
וַאֲפִלּוּ מְנוֹרָה גְדוֹלָה שֶׁדָּלַק עָלֶיהָ נֵר אֶחָד מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם נַעֲשֵׂית כֻּלָּהּ בָּסִיס לוֹ וְנֶאֶסְרָה בְּטִלְטוּל לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת אֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה הַנֵּר (אֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינָהּ שֶׁל פְּרָקִים) אֲבָל בַּשַּׁבָּת הָאַחֶרֶת מֻתָּר לְטַלְטֵל הַנֵּר וְהַמְּנוֹרָה לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפָן אוֹ מְקוֹמָן כֵּיוָן שֶׁלֹּא דָלְקוּ בָּהֶן בִּתְחִלַּת כְּנִיסַת אוֹתָהּ הַשַּׁבָּת:
Laws of moving (tiltul) the Shabbos lamp — and it contains 9 seifim:
A lamp (ner) that was lit while it was still day and remained burning until after nightfall — even if it later went out — is forbidden to move throughout the entire Shabbos, even for the sake of its body (letzorech gufo) or for the sake of its place (letzorech mekomo). And it is unlike other utensils whose function is forbidden (keli shemelachto le-issur), which are permitted to be moved for the sake of their body or place, as will be explained in siman 308. For during bein hashemashos, when the lamp was burning, it was forbidden to move even for the sake of its body or place, because it was a basis le-davar ha-assur (basis for a forbidden thing) — namely the flame burning upon it, which is muktzeh — and the lamp itself became muktzeh like it. And since at bein hashemashos, which is the very start of the entry of Shabbos, it was muktzeh by the person's intent (he set it aside deliberately when he lit it and made it a basis for a (forbidden) muktzeh thing), it was set aside for the entirety of Shabbos, as will be explained in siman 310.
And even a large candelabrum (menorah) upon which a single lamp burned from before nightfall becomes wholly a basis for it, and is forbidden to be moved for the entire Shabbos — even after the lamp has gone out (even if it is not jointed, shel perakim). But on the following Shabbos, it is permitted to move the lamp and the menorah for the sake of their body or place, since they were not burning at the start of the entry of that Shabbos:
סעיף ב וְכֵן הַשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר בַּנֵּר אַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה מִשֶּׁחָשֵׁכָה אָסוּר לְטַלְטֵל וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן…
וְכֵן הַשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר בַּנֵּר אַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה מִשֶּׁחָשֵׁכָה אָסוּר לְטַלְטֵל וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן לְהִסְתַּפֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ כָּל אוֹתָהּ הַשַּׁבָּת הוֹאִיל וְהֻקְצָה בִּתְחִלַּת כְּנִיסָתָהּ דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁבְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת כְּשֶׁהָיָה דוֹלֵק הָיָה אָסוּר לְהִסְתַּפֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ מִשּׁוּם אִסּוּר כִּבּוּי כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן רס״ה נֶאֱסַֹר לְהִסְתַּפֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ בְּכָל אוֹתָהּ הַשַּׁבָּת וְכֵיוָן שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִסְתַּפֵּק וְלֵהָנוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת אָסוּר גַּם כֵּן לְטַלְטְלוֹ הוֹאִיל וְאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לִכְלוּם בּוֹ בַיּוֹם וְעוֹד שֶׁגַּם בְּטִלְטוּל הֻקְצָה בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת כְּשֶׁהָיָה דוֹלֵק מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּסִיס לַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת שֶׁהוּא מֻקְצֶה וְכֵן הַפְּתִילָה נַעֲשֵׂית גַּם כֵּן בָּסִיס לַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת וְאָסוּר לְטַלְטֵל מַה שֶּׁנִּשְׁתַּיֵּר מִמֶּנָּה כָּל אוֹתָהּ הַשַּׁבָּת.
Likewise, the oil that remained in the lamp after it went out once it became dark is forbidden to move — and all the more so to use any of it — throughout that entire Shabbos, since it was set aside at the very beginning of its entry. That is, during bein hashemashos, when it was burning, it was forbidden to use any of it on account of the prohibition of extinguishing (issur kibbui), as was explained in siman 265: it was rendered forbidden for any benefit throughout that Shabbos. And since it is forbidden to use or to benefit from it on Shabbos, it is also forbidden to move it, since it is fit for nothing on that day. Furthermore, with respect to moving as well, it was set aside at bein hashemashos while it was burning, because it became a basis for the flame, which is muktzeh. So too, the wick (petilah) likewise became a basis for the flame, and it is forbidden to move whatever remains of it throughout that Shabbos.
סעיף ג אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַנֵּר שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ שַׁבָּת אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ כָּל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ…
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַנֵּר שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ שַׁבָּת אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ כָּל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ אֲפִלּוּ לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ וּמְקוֹמוֹ מִכָּל מָקוֹם מִי שֶׁהוּא אִסְטְנִיס וְהַנֵּר הוּא מָאוּס עָלָיו בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לוֹ דְּהַיְנוּ (לְאַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה אוֹ) לְמָחָר בַּיּוֹם וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִסְבּוֹל שֶׁיְּהֵא מֻנָּח אֶצְלוֹ יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיאוֹ מֵעָלָיו לְמָקוֹם אַחֵר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֲרֵי נֵר זֶה לוֹ כִּגְרָף שֶׁל רְעִי לְכָל אָדָם שֶׁהִתִּירוּ לְטַלְטְלוֹ לְהוֹצִיאוֹ מִבַּיִת כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן ש״ח (וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם אֵין כָּל אָדָם יָכוֹל לוֹמַר אִסְטְנִיס אֲנִי אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁיָּדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא אִסְטְנִיס):
Although the lamp that was lit on that very Shabbos is forbidden to move throughout the entire Shabbos, even for the sake of its body or place — nevertheless, one who is fastidious (istnis), and for whom the lamp is repugnant at the time he does not need it (that is, after it has gone out, or on the morrow during the day), and who cannot bear that it be placed near him — he may remove it from beside him to another place. For this lamp is to him like a graf shel re'i (chamber-pot), which they permitted for every person to move out of the house, as will be explained in siman 308. (However, not every man may declare himself an istnis, but only one who is known to be fastidious:)
סעיף ד אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁטִּלְטוּל הַנֵּר אֵינוֹ אָסוּר אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּסִיס לְדָבָר הָאָסוּר…
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁטִּלְטוּל הַנֵּר אֵינוֹ אָסוּר אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּסִיס לְדָבָר הָאָסוּר דְּהַיְנוּ הַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת אֵין הֶתֵּר שֶׁיַּנִּיחַ עַל הַנֵּר מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם מְעַט לֶחֶם אוֹ שְׁאָר דָּבָר הַמֻּתָּר בְּטִלְטוּל כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא הַנֵּר בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת בָּסִיס לְאִסּוּר וּלְהֶתֵּר לְפִי שֶׁהַנֵּר הוּא עָשׂוּי בִּשְׁבִיל הַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת לְכָךְ הוּא טָפֵל אֵלֶיהָ וְלֹא לְהַלֶּחֶם אוֹ שְׁאָר דָּבָר אַף שֶׁאוֹתוֹ דָבָר חָשׁוּב מֵהַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת וְכֵן הַדִּין בִּמְנוֹרָה:
Although moving the lamp is forbidden only because it became a basis le-davar ha-assur — namely the flame — there is no permission to place upon the lamp from before nightfall a little bread or other item permitted in moving, in order that the lamp at bein hashemashos be a basis both for the forbidden and for the permitted. For the lamp is made for the sake of the flame: therefore it is subordinate (tafel) to it, and not to the bread or other item — even if that item is more important than the flame. So too is the law regarding the menorah:
סעיף ה אִם הִתְנָה מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם עַל נֵר זֶה שֶׁיְּטַלְטְלֶנּוּ בְּשַּׁבָּת לִכְשֶׁיִּכְבֶּה מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ…
אִם הִתְנָה מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם עַל נֵר זֶה שֶׁיְּטַלְטְלֶנּוּ בְּשַּׁבָּת לִכְשֶׁיִּכְבֶּה מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ אַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהֻקְצָה בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת הֻקְצָה לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת הוֹאִיל וְאַף בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת לֹא הֻקְצָה מִדַּעְתּוֹ לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת שֶׁהֲרֵי הָיָה דַעְתּוֹ עָלָיו לְטַלְטְלוֹ לִכְשֶׁיִּכְבֶּה וַהֲרֵי בְּוַדַּאי יִכְבֶּה בְּשַׁבָּת כְּשֶׁיִּכְלֶה הַשֶּׁמֶן.
וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵין הַתְּנַאי מוֹעִיל כְּלוּם שֶׁהוֹאִיל וְהִקְצָהוּ מִדַּעְתּוֹ לְבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁכְּשֶׁהִדְלִיק בּוֹ הָיָה בְדַעְתּוֹ שֶׁיְּהֵא הַשֶּׁמֶן דּוֹלֵק בּוֹ בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת וִיהֵא הַנֵּר בָּסִיס לְכָךְ הֻקְצָה לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ וְכֵן נוֹהֲגִים בִּמְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ.
וְנוֹהֲגִין לְטַלְטְלוֹ עַל יְדֵי נָכְרִי אֲפִלּוּ לְהַצְנִיעוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִגָּנֵב שֶׁאָסוּר כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהוּא דוֹלֵק כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן רע״ו אַף עַל פִּי כֵן אַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה אֵין בְּזֶה אִסּוּר שֶׁמֵּאַחַר שֶׁהַמִּנְהָג כָּךְ הֲרֵי זֶה כְּאִלּוּ הִתְנָה עָלָיו מִתְּחִלָּה לְטַלְטְלוֹ עַל יְדֵי נָכְרִי לִכְשֶׁיִּכְבֶּה וּלְעִנְיַן טִלְטוּל עַל יְדֵי נָכְרִי סוֹמְכִין עַל סְבָרָא הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁהַתְּנַאי מוֹעִיל לִכְשֶׁיִּכְבֶּה וְטוֹב לְהַתְנוֹת כָּךְ בְּפֵרוּשׁ:
If one stipulated from before nightfall regarding this lamp that he would move it on Shabbos once it goes out, it is permitted to move it after it has gone out, and we do not say "since it was muktzeh at bein hashemashos it was muktzeh for the entire Shabbos," because even during bein hashemashos he did not deliberately set it aside for the entire Shabbos: his mind was set on moving it once it would go out, and it would certainly go out on Shabbos when the oil ran out.
And some say that the stipulation (tenai) is of no avail at all: since he set it aside deliberately for bein hashemashos — that is, when he lit it his intention was that the oil should burn within it during bein hashemashos and that the lamp would be a basis for that — it was set aside for the entire Shabbos. And so is the practice in these lands.
And the practice is to move it by means of a non-Jew, even to put it away so that it not be stolen — which is forbidden so long as it is burning, as explained in siman 276 — yet after it has gone out there is no prohibition in this. For since such is the custom, it is as though he stipulated from the outset to move it by means of a non-Jew once it goes out; and concerning moving by means of a non-Jew, we rely on the first view that the stipulation is effective once it has gone out. And it is good to stipulate so explicitly:
סעיף ו וְכָל זֶה בְּנֵר שֶׁהֻדְלַק מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם אֲבָל אִם הֻדְלַק אַחַר כְּנִיסַת הַשַּׁבָּת דְּהַיְנוּ…
וְכָל זֶה בְּנֵר שֶׁהֻדְלַק מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם אֲבָל אִם הֻדְלַק אַחַר כְּנִיסַת הַשַּׁבָּת דְּהַיְנוּ מִשֶּׁחָשֵׁכָה עַל יְדֵי נָכְרִי לְצֹרֶךְ קְטַנִּים אוֹ לְצֹרֶךְ חוֹלֶה שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ סַכָּנָה אוֹ שֶׁעָבַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהִדְלִיקוֹ בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ אַחַר שֶׁכָּבָה לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ אוֹ מְקוֹמוֹ הוֹאִיל וְלֹא הָיָה מֻקְצֶה בִּתְחִלַּת כְּנִיסַת הַשַּׁבָּת אֶלָּא בְּאֶמְצַע הַשַּׁבָּת כְּשֶׁהָיָה דוֹלֵק לֹא נַעֲשָׂה עַל יְדֵי זֶה מֻקְצֶה לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ אֶלָּא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא דוֹלֵק בִּלְבָד.
וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם הִדְלִיקוֹ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם אִם הָיָה מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת כְּגוֹן נֵר שֶׁל חַיָּה וְשֶׁל חוֹלֶה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סַכָּנָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנֶּאֱסַר אַחַר כָּךְ בְּטִלְטוּל כְּגוֹן שֶׁיָּלְדָה הַחַיָּה וְאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה לַנֵּר וְנִתְרַפֵּא הַחוֹלֶה מִכָּל מָקוֹם כְּשֶׁיִּכְבֶּה הַנֵּר מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ אוֹ מְקוֹמוֹ הוֹאִיל וְלֹא הָיָה אָסוּר בְּטִלְטוּל בְּבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת:
All of this applies to a lamp lit from before nightfall. But if it was lit after the entry of Shabbos — that is, once it became dark — by a non-Jew for the sake of young children, or for the sake of a sick person without mortal danger, or that a Jew transgressed and lit it, whether inadvertently (shogeg) or intentionally (mezid) — it is permitted to move it after it has gone out for the sake of its body or place, since it was not muktzeh at the start of the entry of Shabbos; rather only in the middle of Shabbos, when it was burning. This did not render it muktzeh for the entirety of Shabbos, but only at the time when it is burning.
And even if it was lit before nightfall, if it was permitted to be moved at bein hashemashos — such as the lamp of a woman in childbirth (chayah) or of a dangerously ill person (choleh she-yesh bo sakanah) — even though it later became forbidden to move (for example, because the chayah gave birth and no longer needs the lamp, or the sick person was healed), nevertheless, when the lamp goes out it is permitted to move it for the sake of its body or place, since it was not forbidden to be moved at bein hashemashos:
סעיף ז נֵר שֶׁלֹּא הִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ בְּאוֹתָהּ שַׁבָּת אֲפִלּוּ הוּא שֶׁל חֶרֶס שֶׁהוּא מָאוּס כְּשֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ…
נֵר שֶׁלֹּא הִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ בְּאוֹתָהּ שַׁבָּת אֲפִלּוּ הוּא שֶׁל חֶרֶס שֶׁהוּא מָאוּס כְּשֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ כְּבָר וַאֲפִלּוּ הִדְלִיקוּ בּוֹ נֵפְטְ שֶׁהוּא מַסְרִיחַ מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ בֵּשַּׁבָּת לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפוֹ וּמְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֻקְצֶה מֵחֲמַת מִאוּס הוֹאִיל וְהוּא רָאוּי לְכַסּוֹת בּוֹ כֵּלִים וְאֵינוֹ דוֹמֶה לִצְרוֹרוֹת וַאֲבָנִים שֶׁאַף שֶׁרְאוּיִים לְכַסּוֹת בָּהֶם כֵּלִים אֲסוּרִים בְּטִלְטוּל לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עֲלֵיהֶם תּוֹרַת כְּלִי כְּלָל אֲבָל נֵר זֶה יֵשׁ עָלָיו תּוֹרַת כְּלִי:
A lamp in which one did not light on that Shabbos — even if it is of earthenware (shel cheres), which is repugnant after having been lit, and even if naphtha (neft) — which is foul-smelling — was burned in it — it is permitted to move it on Shabbos for the sake of its body and its place, for it is not muktzeh on account of its repulsiveness (machmas mi'us), since it is fit to cover vessels with it. And it is not similar to pebbles and stones: even though these are fit to cover vessels with, they are forbidden to be moved, because they have no status of keli (utensil) at all. But this lamp does have the status of a keli:
סעיף ח מְנוֹרָה בֵּין גְּדוֹלָה בֵּין קְטַנָּה אִם הִיא שֶׁל פְּרָקִים אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלָהּ אֲפִלּוּ לְצֹרֶךְ…
מְנוֹרָה בֵּין גְּדוֹלָה בֵּין קְטַנָּה אִם הִיא שֶׁל פְּרָקִים אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלָהּ אֲפִלּוּ לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפָהּ וּמְקוֹמָהּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִדְלִיקוּ בָּהּ בְּאוֹתוֹ שַׁבָּת שֶׁחוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא תִּפּוֹל מִיָּדוֹ וְתִתְפָּרֵק וְיַחֲזִיר פְּרָקֶיהָ וְיִתְקָעֵם וִיהַדְּקֵם בְּחֹזֶק וְיִתְחַיֵּב מִשּׁוּם בּוֹנֶה כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן שי״ג.
וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינָם שֶׁל פְּרָקִים אֶלָּא יֵשׁ בָּהּ חֲרִיצִים סָבִיב וְדוֹמָה לְשֶׁל פְּרָקִים אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלָהּ גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא יֹאמַר הָרוֹאֶה שֶׁהִיא שֶׁל פְּרָקִים וְיָבֹא לְהַתִּיר אַף שֶׁל פְּרָקִים וְאַף אִם הִיא קְטַנָּה מְאֹד שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ שֶׁל פְּרָקִים כְּלָל וְהַכֹּל יוֹדְעִים שֶׁהֵם חֲרִיצִים בִּלְבָד וְלֹא פְּרָקִים אַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא רָצוּ חֲכָמִים לְחַלֵּק בִּגְזֵרָתָם בֵּין גְּדוֹלָה לִקְטַנָּה:
A menorah, whether large or small, if it is jointed (shel perakim), it is forbidden to move it even for the sake of its body or place — even if one did not light it on that Shabbos — out of concern that it might fall from one's hand and come apart, and that one would put its joints back, set them, and tighten them firmly, becoming liable as a boneh (builder), as will be explained in siman 313.
And even if it is not jointed but has grooves (charitzim) around it that make it resemble a jointed object, it is forbidden to move it, by decree, lest the onlooker say that it is jointed and come to permit even the jointed ones. And even if it is very small, such that it is not at all the practice to make it jointed, and everyone knows that they are merely grooves and not joints, nevertheless the Sages did not wish to distinguish in their decree between large and small:
סעיף ט וְכָל זֶה בִּמְנוֹרָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהּ מֵהַכֵּלִים שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְהִתְפָּרֵק כְּשֶׁנּוֹפְלִים אֲבָל כֵּלִים…
וְכָל זֶה בִּמְנוֹרָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהּ מֵהַכֵּלִים שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לְהִתְפָּרֵק כְּשֶׁנּוֹפְלִים אֲבָל כֵּלִים שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכָּם לְהִתְפָּרֵק כְּשֶׁנּוֹפְלִים כְּגוֹן כּוֹסוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶם מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלָם אַף שֶׁהֵם בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַחֲזִיר פִּרְקֵיהֶם כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן שי״ג וַאֲפִלּוּ מְנוֹרָה שֶׁל פְּרָקִים אִם פְּרָקֶיהָ רְפוּיִים לְעוֹלָם שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ לְהַדְּקָם בְּחֹזֶק מֻתָּר לְטַלְטְלָהּ וְאַף לְהַחֲזִיר פְּרָקֶיהָ אִם נָפְלוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר שָׁם עַיֵּן שָׁם הַטַּעַם:
And all this applies to a menorah and similar utensils whose way is to come apart when they fall. But utensils whose way is not to come apart when they fall — such as cups and the like — it is permitted to move them, even though they are in a condition where it would be forbidden to reset their joints, as will be explained in siman 313. And even a jointed menorah, if its joints are always loose, such that it is not the way to tighten them firmly, it is permitted to move it and even to put back its joints if they have fallen, as will be explained there — see there the reason:
קונטרס אחרון — 1 entry (click to expand)
The Kuntress Acharon is the pilpul appendix of the Alter Rebbe — his halachic laboratory at the bottom of the page.
קונטרס אחרון, אות א
איסטניס כו'. לפי הגהת הב״ח במרדכי צריך לומר דאאסטניס קאי שבודאי אינו סותר דברי עצמו תוך כדי דיבור, וכן דעת רמ״א לחלק בין איסטניס לאינו איסטניס, וכן דעת ט״ז שלא להקל באינו איסטניס, אבל על האיסטניס אין לו ראיה מנר ישן של נפט דמיירי בסתם כל אדם, וכיון שדעת רמ״א וט״ז והמרדכי להחמיר באינו איסטניס עכ״פ אין להקל נגדם:
"Istnis, etc." — According to the emendation of the Bach in the Mordechai, it must be read as referring to the istnis, who certainly does not contradict his own words within the span of a single statement (toch kedei dibbur). So too is the view of the Rema, who distinguishes between an istnis and one who is not; and so too is the view of the Taz, not to be lenient with one who is not an istnis. But concerning the istnis, he has no proof from an old lamp of naphtha (ner yashan shel neft) — which speaks of any ordinary person. And since the view of the Rema, the Taz, and the Mordechai is to be strict regarding one who is not an istnis, in any event one may not be lenient against them:
חידושים מיוחדים של הרב
The Specific Chiddushim of the Rav on This Siman
No chiddush is presented for this siman at this time; the block below sets out the rule as the Alter Rebbe writes it.
א — המעמד נקבע בבין השמשות (רע״ט:א-ג, ה-ו)
1 — the status is fixed at bein hashemashos (279:1-3, 5-6)
What decides is bein hashemashos — not the extinguishing
What the Rav writes: the Alter Rebbe makes the status of the lamp depend on what it was at bein hashemashos, “תְּחִלַּת כְּנִיסַת הַשַּׁבָּת”. A lamp lit while it was still day and still burning after nightfall — “אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּבָה אַחַר כָּךְ אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ כָּל הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלָּהּ” (even if it went out afterwards, it is forbidden to move it throughout the entire Shabbos), even for the sake of its body or its place (279:1); likewise the remaining oil and wick (279:2). After it has gone out, it may be moved in these cases among others: a person known to be an istenis, to whom the lamp is repulsive, may remove it from his presence to another place (279:3); by custom, a non-Jew moves it after it has gone out, even to put it away so that it is not stolen (279:5); and a lamp that was not forbidden to move at bein hashemashos — lit after nightfall, or lit while still day, for example, for a woman in childbirth or a dangerously ill person — may be moved after it has gone out for the sake of its body or its place (279:6).
Practical consequence: going out does not make movable a lamp that was burning at bein hashemashos: the Shabbos lamp lit while it was still day, and still burning at nightfall, remains forbidden to move throughout the entire Shabbos (279:1). As for a stipulation made while still day, the Alter Rebbe cites two views; after the second (the stipulation is of no avail) he writes “וְכֵן נוֹהֲגִים בִּמְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ” (and such is the custom in these lands). For moving it through a non-Jew, one relies on the first view, and “וְטוֹב לְהַתְנוֹת כָּךְ בְּפֵרוּשׁ” (it is good to stipulate so explicitly) (279:5).
What the Mishnah Berurah adds (this is not the Rav's text): on seif 1 of the Shulchan Aruch, the Mishnah Berurah writes that if there is fear of non-Jews on account of the lamp, “מותר לטלטלו לאחר שכבה” (משנה ברורה רע״ט ס״ק א) (it is permitted to move it after it has gone out) — following the Shiltei Gibborim, with whom the Tosefes Shabbos also agrees, against the Magen Avraham; and, it adds, it emerges from the Pri Megadim that if he fears being beaten, or another monetary loss, it is permitted according to all. On the Rama's gloss by which, by custom, the lamp is moved through a non-Jew as though one had stipulated, it writes that if one set a lamp on the table intending it to burn the whole day, “כמו יא״צ וכדומה” (משנה ברורה רע״ט ס״ק יד) (such as a yahrzeit lamp and the like), and it went out, one cannot say here that it is as if he had stipulated: perhaps it is forbidden to move it even through a non-Jew (Pri Megadim) — and that only in order that it not be stolen, but for the sake of its body or its place it is permitted through a non-Jew in every case.
שיחות, מאמרים ואגרות הרבי
The Words of the Rebbe on the Themes of Siman רע״ט
We attribute to the Rebbe only verifiable primary sources (a letter, sicha, or identifiable pesak, with a link). At this stage, no statement of the Rebbe directly tied to this siman could be confirmed against Sefaria or Chabad.org — we prefer to show nothing rather than an unsourced reference.
הלכה למעשה — מנהג חב״ד
Chabad Conduct in Practice
Points of halachic conduct that flow directly from the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe siman רע״ט, in the Chabad sensibility.
For the Chabad Chassid — Siman רע״ט
- ① A lamp that was burning at bein hashemashos: forbidden to move all Shabbos, even after it has gone out. Even for the sake of its body or its place; likewise the remaining oil and wick. Reference: Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe רע״ט:1-2.
- ② After it has gone out, it may be moved in these cases among others. A known istenis may remove it from his presence (279:3); through a non-Jew, by custom (279:5); and, if it was not forbidden at bein hashemashos — lit after nightfall, or while still day, for example, for a woman in childbirth or a dangerously ill person —, for the sake of its body or its place (279:6). Reference: Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe רע״ט:3, 5-6.
- ③ The candelabra. One on which a lamp lit while still day has burned “נַעֲשֵׂית כֻּלָּהּ בָּסִיס לוֹ” (becomes entirely its base) and remains forbidden to move all Shabbos, even after the lamp has gone out (279:1); placing bread on the lamp while still day does not help, and likewise for the candelabra (279:4); a candelabra made of parts, or with grooves that make it look like one made of parts, is forbidden to move even if it was not lit that Shabbos (279:8), unless its parts are always loose (279:9). Reference: Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe רע״ט:1, 4, 8-9.
⚠ This section presents the Chabad halachic conduct. For any concrete question: consult your Rav.