By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

So now that the National Weather Service is predicting a lull � in the rain, the question arises as to whether or not you can take a broom and shake off the excess rain that is trapped around the Schach on Shabbos tonight after it stops raining.

A Chashuv Talmid Chochom and Posaik wanted to claim that it is forbidden for two reasons:� 1] It is Muktzah and not considered moving Muktzeh indirectly – tiltul min hatzad, but rather it is considered yada arichta � an extension of his hand and therefore forbidden – and 2] It is shechita or borer.

I would like to humbly take issue with him in regard to both topics.� There is a Taz cited by the Mishna Brurah in OC 308:115 that moving Muktzah with a knife is considered tiltul min hatzad and permitted.� True, the Rav Shulchan Aruch (OC 308:60) holds that it is yada arichta and thus forbidden, but in this case especially, we should follow the Mishna Brurah.� For our Lubavitch friends, perhaps they should get a goy and ask him to do it.

Regarding the second issue of sechita, what is happening is the removal of the water around the bamboo slats � not the water in it.� There is a Teshuva from the Sridei Aish that getting rid� of the water around plastic bristles is not considered Sechita.� One should certainly rely on this Teshuvah regarding fulfilling the D�oraisa of eating in the Sukkah tonight.

The Posaik countered that the water absorbs into the bamboo and it may be different than plastic.� However, the water that absorbs into the bamboo is not being taken out by the broom � it is the water surrounding the bamboo.

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