...Continued from previous week
1) In many restrooms there is a toilet paper or tissue holder which holds the paper in place using an insert with a spring in it.
According to some Poskim, removing or inserting this spring into the paper holder is prohibited on Shabbos and doing so is a transgression of the Melacha of Boneh/ Soser.
Their reasoning is that this holder is considered a part of the structure, as it is always there and even when it is removed to fill the paper, it is immediately returned to its place. (Ruling of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal quoted in Orchos Shabbos page 271 footnote 26)
2) Other Poskim, however, maintain that removing and inserting this spring is not a transgression of Boneh/Soser as it is always looked at as an independent item and not part of the structure. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal, ibid. footnote 27). For Halacha L’Ma’aseh, as always, a Rav must be consulted.
3) In many public places, near the sink, they have a long towel hanging from a rod which turns so that a dry part of the towel can be reached in order to dry the hands.
If this rod is screwed closed, it may not be opened on Shabbos to remove the wet towel and exchange it with a fresh one, even if this screw is only loosely screwed in.
If, however, the rod is not screwed down at all, and is simply laying there on brackets, it may be opened and closed on Shabbos in order to change the towels.(Ruling of Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal quoted in Orchos Shabbos page 272)
4) The above remains permissible even if there is a lock preventing unauthorized individuals from opening the rod to remove the towel, as since it isn’t screwed down it is not considered a part of the structure. (ibid.)
Likewise, the rod of a Paroches (curtain) that hangs in front of an Aron HaKodesh, which fell off, may be returned to its place if it is free standing on brackets and not screwed in.
If it was screwed in it is prohibited to return it to its place and doing so is a prohibition of Boneh, as we deem it as part of the Aron HaKodesh. (Besides for it being an issue of Muktzeh. See Mishna Berura Siman 308:35)
5) A plastic hook that goes over the door and is used to hang clothing behind the door may be put on and removed on Shabbos as it is free standing and not connected to the door and thus not considered a part of the door.
6) A mezuzah cover that fell off the doorpost on Shabbos may not be replaced even if done in a loose manner.
Likewise, if one of the screws holding the Mezuzah in place falls out on Shabbos, it may not be replaced, even loosely, on Shabbos. (Besides for the prohibition of Boneh, the screw, as well as the cover that fell, is Muktzeh. See Mishna Berura Siman 308:35)
If the mezuzah cover got loose and the parchment fell out, some Poskim rule that the parchment may be returned to its place on Shabbos. (See Sdei Chemed: Mem; 115 for more details on why this may or may not be a problem)
7) It is prohibited [for a Jew] to fix an Eiruv that requires repair on Shabbos.
This includes inserting or straightening the poles as well as tying on or fixing the strings or any other aspect of repair, and doing these actions is a prohibition of Boneh.
8) In certain situations where not repairing the Eiruv may lead to many people unsuspectingly carrying on Shabbos, it is permissible to request a Aino-Yehudi to repair the Eiruv. (See Mishna Berura Siman 276:25.). Of course, a Rav must be consulted for Halacha L’Ma’aseh before requesting this of the Aino-Yehudi.
9) In the event that a window breaks on Shabbos, it is permitted to cover the opening by draping a blanket, sheet or a towel over it and doing so is not an issue of Boneh.(Mishna Berura Siman 313:3)
However, the blanket, sheet or towel may not be tacked into the wall or window frame, as that indeed would be a prohibition of Boneh.
10) If after the window breaks, some pieces of the glass remain in the frame, they may not be removed from the frame as doing so would be a transgression of Soser, destroying.
However, if by leaving those glass pieces in the frame they will pose a danger to people, an Aino-Yehudi may be asked to remove them.
If an Aino-Yehudi is not available, the dangerous glass may be removed from the frame by a Jew if done in a non-regular fashion (K’Lachar Yad), e.g. by removing them with his foot instead of with his hands. (See Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso Perek 23:35 quoting Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal)
To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
