Bassis: Speech Notes Beneath a Laptop

Hi Rabbi, I was working on preparing a speech on Erev Shabbat, which I planned to give on Shabbat afternoon. I placed my notes on top of the printer, and just before Shabbat, I put my laptop on top of those notes. On Shabbat, I wasn’t sure if I could take the notes from under the laptop, since perhaps they had become a bassis (a base) to the laptop, which is muktzeh. What would have been the right thing to do?

Thank you for your question.

For the benefit of our readers, I would like to first explain/introduce the concept called bassis.

Bassis literally means a “base,” meaning that if a muktzeh object is placed on an item, that item also becomes muktzeh , since it is serving as a base for the muktzeh object. This is a chiddush, because until now we understood that certain objects are considered muktzeh and forbidden to use on Shabbat. Now we see that even an object that is generally permitted for use on Shabbat can become muktzeh if it is used as a base for a muktzeh item.

Not in all cases does an item become muktzeh just because a muktzeh object was placed on it. For example, the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim Siman 309, Se’if 4, writes as follows:

שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות שבת סימן שט סעיף ד

שכח אבן ע"פ חבית, או מעות על הכר, מטה חבית על צדה והאבן נופלת, ומנער הכר והמעות נופלים;

If one forgot a stone on top of a barrel, or money on a pillow, he may tilt the barrel to its side and the stone will fall off, or shake the pillow and the money will fall off.

As we know, a stone is considered muktzeh on Shabbat. If a person intentionally placed a stone on a barrel of wine before Shabbat, then the barrel becomes a bassis to the stone and is also considered muktzeh , even if the stone is later removed. However, the Shulchan Aruch explains that if the stone was placed on the barrel unintentionally, the barrel does not become a bassis to the stone and is not considered muktzeh , one may therefore tilt the barrel to roll off the stone, and then use the barrel on Shabbat.

The Mishnah Berurah, Se’if Katan 18, brings a machlokes ha’poskim regarding the halacha in a case where one placed a muktzeh object on a bassis with the intention that it remain there for Shabbat. However, the reason he placed it there was not because he intended it to be its fixed place, he simply wanted it out of the way and put it there temporarily.

We could say that since he nevertheless intended the muktzeh item to remain on the bassis item over Shabbat, it would have the status of bassis le’davar ha’assur and become muktzeh . On the other hand, we could argue that since he didn’t intend it to be its fixed place, he merely placed it there temporarily because he had nowhere else to put it, the base does not become a bassis to the muktzeh .

The opinion of the Gra"z and the Magen Avraham is to be lenient in this case, whereas the Terumat HaDeshen and the Taz are stringent and do consider it a bassis .

The psak of the Mishnah Berurah is that in a case of need (במקום הצורך), one may be lenient like the opinion of the Magen Avraham and take the item that is under the muktzeh on Shabbat.
This is quote of the Mishnah Berurah’s psak;

"ובמקום הצורך נראה דיש להקל, דכמה אחרונים סוברין כוותיה דהמגן אברהם"

Therefore, based on the above, as I understand, when you placed the laptop on the printer, it was only meant to be there temporarily and not as its fixed place. This would then depend on the machloket ha’poskim mentioned above.
We could therefore say that since it was important for you to have your notes that you prepared for your speech, then that could be considered as a ‘case of need’ (מקום הצורך) and it would be permitted for you to take out the notes from under your laptop.

Wishing you much success.

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 310:4
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 309:4
Mishnah Berurah 310:18
Magen Avraham
Terumat HaDeshen
Taz
Gra"z (Shulchan Aruch HaRav)