...Continued from previous week
1) A table leaf may be added to or removed from a table on Shabbos to extend or decrease the size of the table, even if the pins in the leaf are inserted into the corresponding holes in the table and there is no concern of Boneh, as this leaf is meant to go in and out and is also considered loosely attached.
There is also no concern of making an ohel on Shabbos, as this is adding on to an Ohel and not initially making one as we shall discuss when we learn the Halachos of Ohel B’Ezras Hashem. (See Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso Perek 24:23)
Of course, the leaf may not be screwed into the table on Shabbos.
2) It is permitted to open and close a folding table, folding chair, folding bed, child’s playpen and similar items and this is not considered Boneh as all the parts are already connected to each other and thus not considered being assembled on Shabbos. (ibid.)
3) Many infant cribs and bassinets are equipped with small wheels to enable them to be easily moved from place to place.
These wheels are not screwed in, and it is common for them to sometimes fall out when the crib is being moved, and when they fall out they are easily pushed back in.
These wheels may be replaced on Shabbos even if they will now stay in if the crib is lifted, so long as they are loose enough that they can easily be pulled out, as this is not considered Boneh. (See Mishna Berura Siman 308:72)
4) Rubber feet that are placed on bottom of chair legs in order to prevent the floor from becoming scratched may not be removed or replaced on Shabbos onto the legs of the chair if they fell off if they are firmly attached. (See Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso Perek 23:42)
If they are loosely attached it is permitted. (See Orchos Shabbos Page 286 footnote 80)
5) A tray that is attached to a child’s high-chair may be attached and detached as long as it doesn’t take much effort to do so (i.e. a push of a button and it slides right in/out).
If the tray requires strength to attach/detach, according to some Poskim it may be prohibited to do so on Shabbos, while many Poskim allow this as well, as this is the intended way of using this tray and thus it isn’t considered Boneh. (See Orchos Shabbos page 287 footnote 82)
6) It is permitted to screw on the top of a salt shaker as well as the cover of a baby’s bottle on Shabbos, even if fastening it very tightly.
Many Poskim permit the assembly of Lego pieces on Shabbos even if they are assembled very tightly and even if the item constructed is not broken apart right away. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach, HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg , HaRav Nissim Karelitz Zichronam L'vracha and others; see Orchos Shabbos page 287 footnote 86 where he writes that Rav Shlomo Zalmen permitted it but discouraged it nonetheless especially for adults. See also “The Shabbos Home” by Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen Shlita Vol. 2 page 426 footnote 53)
Other Poskim are stringent and prohibit anyone above the age of Chinuch from assembling Lego on Shabbos. (Ruling of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal quoted in Sefer Ashrei HaIsh; Shabbos Page 231-232 and in Orchos Shabbos ibid. See also Shu”t Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 5 Siman 22:27 that one should not give children building toys such as Legos to play with on Shabbos, however they aren’t Muktzeh as the children take them on their own to play with.)
For Halacha L’Ma’aseh a Rav must be consulted.
7) A shtender (a bookstand) or similar item that can be adjusted for height via lifting it or lowering its legs and then pulling out and re-inserting a pin or peg to hold the desired height, may be adjusted on Shabbos and doing so is not a concern of Boneh.
The reason for this is that the shtender is considered a completed item at all heights, and the raising and lowering of it is simply the way it was intended to be used.(Ruling of HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal quoted in Sefer Me’Or HaShabbos Vol. 2: Letters 32:3. See also Shu”t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 6 Siman 32. This is also the way HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal ruled.)
8) A cooling fan’s standing base, however, according to some Poskim, may not be raised and lowered on Shabbos, as when the bolt is loosened to adjust the height, the head of the fan falls downward, and in that position it cannot serve its intended purpose, and thus when it’s refastened it will be considered Tikun Maneh, fixing of the object. (See Orchos Shabbos page 288 footnote 88)
To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
