Unpleasant Muktzah in the Dining Room

May Repellent Muktzeh Be Moved on Shabbos?

There is a halachah in Shulchan Aruch that if a graf shel re’i (a muktzeh item repellent to people due to its odor or appearance) is found on Shabbos in an area of one’s home (including the yard) where they regularly spend considerable time, it may be moved on Shabbos. However, ein osin graf shel re’i lechatchila, one may not davka (deliberately) create a situation on Shabbos where an item will become a graf shel re’i later and will then need to be moved; only be’dieved (after the fact) if such items are found, may they be moved. A pile of nut shells (poskim advise against cracking nuts on Shabbos) or fruit peels may be considered examples of graf shel re’i. In fact, fruit should be peeled straight into a garbage can on Shabbos, since some peels may be considered muktzeh; whereas a pile of peels may be moved due to the principle of graf shel re’I, one may not create a situation that will necessitate moving a graf shel re’i. #293?1

https://halacha2go.com?number=293

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.