28 Jul 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 discomfort or annoyance(ד אות שם (
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
. (סימן שטז ס״ט)them trapping
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(שש״כ
כח הערה פכ״ה (, 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
. (אור לציון ח״ב עמוד רמה)escape
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 potential embarrassment
. (מנחת יצחק ח״י סימן כז)
Applying medicinal cream
If a person is bitten by a mosquito or
another insect and experiences severe pain,
or if he suffers from an allergic reaction, he
may apply a cream or medication to the
affected area on Shabbat.
There are two separate halachic issues
involved in applying cream on Shabbat:
refuah (using medication on Shabbat) and
memare’ach (the prohibition of smoothing
or spreading a substance).
Regarding refuah, Chazal prohibited taking
medication on Shabbat primarily in cases
of ordinary discomfort or minor ailments.
However, when the pain is severe, to the
extent that it causes a person significant
distress, confines him to bed, or there is
concern that the condition may worsen or
become infected, the prohibition does not
apply in the same manner. Therefore, a
person suffering from a significant allergic
reaction may use medication, since his
condition is considered more than ordinary
discomfort.
Regarding the concern of memare’ach,
applying a cream raises the question of
whether spreading the substance smoothly
onto the skin constitutes a prohibited act.
Many Poskim follow the opinion of the
Magen Avraham, who permits applying
creams when the intention is not merely to
smooth the surface but rather to allow the
substance to be absorbed into the skin.
According to this view, applying medicinal
cream is permitted in such circumstances.
Those who wish to follow the stricter
opinion should avoid rubbing the cream
into the skin and instead apply it by placing
the cream on the affected area and gently
dabbing or spreading it without smoothing
it in.