Puzzles, Connecting Letters
33. Not attached. The poskim agree that when different pieces of a single picture are brought together to create a complete picture, as long as they do not connect together at all, e.g., picture blocks, there is no issue of kesiva and it may be done on Shabbos (אג''מ או''ח ח''א סי' קל''ה, ארחות שבת פט''ו אות י''ג ).
34. Attached. However, if the pieces of the picture attach to each other, e.g., in a puzzle where the protruding part of one piece is placed into the opening of another piece and together they make a complete picture, some poskim say that if they connect tightly enough to each other that when one piece is picked up, the other pieces come up too, one may not play with it on Shabbos due to the issur of kesiva. The same is true if the pieces are placed within a frame (הגרשז''א בשש''כ פט''ז סכ''ג ).
35. However, if the puzzle is meant for a young age and has big pieces which, despite being inserted into each other, do not connect tightly together, children may play with it on Shabbos.
Connecting Whole Letters
36. Connecting letters on a board. A child’s toy in which plastic letters are inserted onto a board with holes and the letters are combined to form words may be used on Shabbos. Even if some poskim hold that connecting whole letters together is considered writing (מג''א ; see 13 above), when they are attached to a background in a temporary way, not a more permanent way, it is not considered writing (ארחות שבת פט''ו אות י''ז ).
37. Magnetic letters. Some say that putting magnetic letters onto a metal surface, e.g., a fridge door, to form words is considered writing since the letters can stay that way for a long time (שש''כ פט''ז סכ''ד ). However, others allow it because the letters are not completely attached as with glue or stitching. They are considered temporary and not meant to consistently remain that way on the fridge (לפי הארחות שבת הנ''ל ).
