...Continued from previous week
1) Certain actions that are permitted on Shabbos and do not fall under the Melacha of Boneh (such as loosely connecting two things or other leniencies we discussed over the past few weeks), will still be prohibited to do if being done for the first time, as the first time something is completed it is considered forming it, and thus a transgression of Tikun Maneh. (According to Rashi Shabbos 48a and many other Rishonim it is a biblical transgression while the Rambam Hilchos Shabbos Perek 22:23 deems it a rabbinical transgression. See Mishna Berura Siman 340:33 and Sha’ar HaTziyun Os 68 where he rules like Rashi.)
Thus, it is prohibited to insert shoelaces into a pair of shoes that didn’t ever have laces in them before, even if these laces were previously inserted into a different pair of shoes.
The reason for this is that by virtue of adding laces to the shoes, only now is it considered a finished product, and thus a transgression of Tikun Maneh/Boneh. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 317:2 and Mishna Berura S”K 16)
If the shoelaces were inserted to most of the eyelets before Shabbos, it may be inserted into the remaining few eyelets on Shabbos. (Ruling of HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal quoted in Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso Perek 15 footnote 202)
If the laces are inserted in such a manner that they will surely not remain this way permanently, they may then be inserted on Shabbos in that manner as this does not deem the shoe as completed. (See Ketzos Hashulchan Siman 146; Badei Hashulchan S”K 3)
Thus, if one needs to lace a pair of shoes on Shabbos, he may insert the laces into the top eyelets only, as after Shabbos he will surely remove them and lace them through all the eyelets normally.
Additional Halachos
2) Even in cases where it is permitted to insert the laces, it is only permitted if the laces are easily inserted but not in cases where it takes effort to get them in. (See Mishna Berura Siman 317:20 and Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 317:5)
Additionally, if the laces being inserted are of a kind that requires the tying of a permanent knot to keep them in place, they may not be inserted even if no knot is tied. (See Mishna Berura ibid. and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil V’Davka)
3) A rubber ball or toy may not be blown up for the first time on Shabbos.
However, if the toy or ball was already blown up at least once before Shabbos, it may once again be blown up on Shabbos and may be plugged with a piece of rubber. (See Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso Perek 34:24 quoting Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal.)
4) A balloon that was never inflated may not be blown up for the first time on Shabbos.
A balloon that was once inflated may be blown up on Shabbos provided that this kind of balloon is usually sealed with a rubber plug in order to keep in the air and not tied with a knot.
If this kind of balloon is usually tied with a knot it may not be blown up on Shabbos even if there is no intention to tie it. (See Orchos Shabbos page 292 footnote 103)
5) Pearls that got detached from their strand may not be replaced on Shabbos even if the string isn’t tied, as we are concerned that it may lead to tying inadvertently.
The above does not apply to the strands of beads that children put together for themselves to wear, as that is permitted as long as they do not tie a knot at the end. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal quoted in Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso Perek 16:21. See at length for the reasoning behind the differentiation between adults and children.)
6) A disposable fork which has two parts that need to be attached to form it may be assembled on Shabbos, even if it is being done for the first time. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal in Minchas Shlomo Vol. 2 Siman 13. This is also the ruling of HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal. The Chazon Ish Zatal, however, was stringent. See Orchos Shabbos page 293 footnote 105 for a lengthy explanation of the two sides.)
A cup which is made of two parts that need to be combined into each other may not be assembled for the first time on Shabbos. If, however, it had been assembled once before, it is permissible to once again put it together on Shabbos, as long as it is easy to assemble.
New Topic next week B’Ezras Hashem
