04 Jun BUZZ OFF: KEEPING PESKY PESTS AT BAY ON SHABBAT

As the weather
rapidly gets hotter,
people tend to spend
more time traveling,
camping, or simply
sitting in their
backyard gardens.
However, it’s not just people who come out
when the weather becomes nicer; many
insects, such as mosquitoes, bees, and ticks,
also become more active. When Shabbat
comes and these nuisances are around, we
need to know what is permitted to do in order
to keep them away.
There are two Torah prohibitions that involve
keeping insects away: trapping and killing.
Both are permitted if the insect has a poisonous
bite, such as a snake or scorpion. Additionally,
if there is a bee near a person who is allergic to
its sting, it is permitted to kill the bee even if it
is not actively chasing the person but is simply
in an area that the person cannot leave (שמירת
.(‘שבת כהלכתה פרק כה אות א
On the other hand, if there is an insect that
causes discomfort, such as a fly, cricket, or
mosquito that buzzes in one’s ear and prevents
sleep or is simply annoying, one may not trap
or kill them. Additionally, one is not even
allowed to move these insects, as they are
considered muktzeh. Chazal did not permit
any of these actions solely to alleviate

. (שם אות ד)annoyance or discomfort
In the event one sees a tick on his body on
Shabbat, he must remove it since ticks are
potentially dangerous and can transmit
diseases. The prohibition against trapping does
not apply in cases where there is a health risk.
Therefore, removing a tick from one’s body is
not only permitted but required to prevent
harm. The most common way to remove ticks
is with a pair of tweezers, which can be used
on Shabbat. It is important to carefully grasp
the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible
and pull upward with steady, even pressure to
ensure that no parts of the tick’s limbs remain
embedded in the body. This method is essential
for health reasons and is permitted on Shabbat
to prevent any potential danger or infection.
Similarly, for mosquitoes, even though they
are not dangerous, one may trap them if they
are on one’s body ready to bite. However, one
should try to avoid killing them. If the
mosquitoes are not on the body yet, one should
chase them away without trapping them(סימן
. (שטז ס״ט
Using Repellents:
While many actions are restricted on Shabbat,
using pre-applied insect repellents such as
‘Off,’ a substance that deters insects or other
pests from approaching or settling, is
permissible. If you anticipate insect problems,

you can apply repellent on Shabbat, as there is
no prohibition against applying such sprays on
one’s body to keep the insects off. This helps
in preventing discomfort without violating any
Shabbat prohibitions.
One is also allowed to smear a liquidy lotion
on his body or clothing to keep insects away
on Shabbat. However, it’s important to avoid
using thick creams. Using a liquidy lotion to
repel insects on Shabbat is permissible, as it
does not constitute a violation of smearing,
known as memareach.
Insect Traps:
Setting up insect traps before Shabbat is
another solution. These traps can work
throughout Shabbat without any further action
needed, providing a way to manage insects
without violating any prohibitions.
Using insect aerosol sprays:
Although insect aerosol sprays are not
considered muktzeh on Shabbat(פכ״ה שש״כ
כח הערה (, it’s essential to use them in
accordance with halacha. Here’s how you
might approach this:
1. Avoid Direct Contact: Refrain from spraying
directly on the insects, as this action may result
in their death, which is prohibited on Shabbat.
2. Provide an Escape Route: If spraying in an
enclosed space, such as a closed room, ensure

to leave a window or door open to allow the
insects a means of escape(עמוד ח״ב לציון אור
. (רמה
Dead insects:
In the event that a bee or fly dies in a house
where people spend time and it disturbs them,
it may be removed. Although an insect is
muktzeh, when it’s dead and causes discomfort,
it is considered graf shel reyi and may be
. (פרמ״ג משב״ז סימן שטז סק״ח)removed
In places with many bugs where one needs to
use toilet facilities and sees live flies or other
bugs in the water, which are not yet dead, he
may flush the toilet even though they will
likely die. This allowance stems from the
principle that certain actions may be permitted
for the dignity of a person. In this case, flushing
the water after using the bathroom prevents
. (מנחת יצחק ח״י סימן כז)embarrassment potential