...Continued from previous week
1) One who closes a window or a door and thus “adds on” to the structure by causing open space to be filled, nevertheless has not transgressed the Melacha of Boneh, even if the intention is to keep this window or door sealed indefinitely.
2) A drawer in a large dresser (or even a small dresser if it is mounted to the wall or floor) that slides on tracks should not be removed or inserted on Shabbos as doing so is a concern of Boneh or Soser according to some Poskim. (See Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 52:14 Dibur Hamaschil Kasav Od. Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal ruled that there is no concern of Boneh or Soser with removing and inserting drawers unless the track has a latch which locks it in place when opened to prevent it from easily coming out.)
3) Shelves should not be removed from or replaced into a bookcase on Shabbos, even if they are not screwed in and simply lay upon pegs or dowels as is common in many bookcases, as they are meant to remain in the bookcase permanently and as such are deemed part of the bookcase.
The aforementioned Halacha applies only to large bookcases or even to smaller bookcases if they are mounted to the floor or the wall, as bookcases that are small (can hold less than the volume of 40 Sa’ah) and are not mounted to the wall or floor may have their [loose fitting, self-standing] shelves removed and replaced (as we shall B’Ezras Hashem discuss more in detail when we discuss Boneh in regards to Keilim, utensils)
4) It is prohibited to hang a curtain or drape onto its track or shaft on Shabbos [if it is to remain there permanently] as doing so is considered adding on to the structure.
If the curtain is only being hung temporarily according to some Poskim it is permitted, while other Poskim prohibit this as well. (See Rama Siman 315:1 and Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 52:13)
5) Attaching a suction cup hook -which is fastened by virtue of forming a vacuum – to a wall or window on Shabbos is prohibited, as doing so is considered adding on to the wall.
This is the case even if the hook will not stay there permanently but only a few hours. (As even if it lacks permanence to deem it biblical Boneh it will still be considered rabbinical Boneh if it stays there temporarily)
6) using a suction cup which is attached to the bottom of a child’s bowl or plate in order to “fasten” it to the table is permitted, as doing so is not considered adding on to the table, rather it is done to prevent the contents of the bowl from spilling, and is removed immediately after the meal.
7) Magnets on a refrigerator, which keep papers and other items stuck on to the refrigerator, may be removed from and returned to the refrigerator and there is no concern of Boneh or Soser, as they aren’t considered a part of the refrigerator. (Some Poskim are stringent with magnets that are meant to stay stuck for a long time, such as those holding notepads to the fridge)
Care should be taken though, if moving these magnets, that no papers which may be Muktzeh are moved along with them on Shabbos.
8) A picture that is freely hanging on a nail or on a hook on the wall, and is not in any way attached to the wall may be removed from and returned to the wall and is not a prohibition of Boneh. (See Mogen Avraham Siman 315:2 and Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 52:13.)
However, sometimes a picture or painting may be prohibited to move due to being Muktzeh because of its value or size, as we discuss when we learnt Hilchos Muktzeh, so this should be kept in mind before moving any paintings.(See Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 43:17 regarding a wall clock where he rules that it should not be removed or replaced due to concerns of Muktzeh, and not due to concerns of Boneh)
9) A baby swing which is attached [via a spring] to the top of a door, and is commonly removed after each use, may be hung onto and removed from the door on Shabbos as we do not look at the swing as an addition to the structure, rather as an independent item which will soon be removed. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach and Rav Nisim Karelitz Zichronam L'vracha, quoted in Orchos Shabbos page 270 footnote 20)
10) A doorknob which fell off a door on Shabbos may not be reattached on Shabbos.
If the screw is reinserted along with the doorknob, it is a biblical prohibition; if it is inserted without the screw and is a bit wobbly it is a rabbinical prohibition.
However, if the knob is placed on the door in a way that it will inevitably fall off, no prohibition of Boneh is present. (See Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 50:10 Dibur Hamaschil Daf. There may be other reasons due to Muktzeh or other Gezeiros D’Rabanan why this may still be prohibited in some cases, and we shall discuss them , B’Ezras Hashem, more in detail as we progrss.)
To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
