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We are continuing in siman 2. The Chayei Adam makes the important point that if a person has a knot which is muttar to untie, but they are having trouble untying it, it is muttar to cut or destroy it in order to open it. For example, we have learned (s621) that if one planned to make a bow, and the bow ended up turning into a double knot, it is muttar to untie it. If that knot ended up becoming too tight, maybe the heter to untie the knot is only based on the idea that untying it allows it to be reused, so one could argue that when it will be destroyed it will be assur. However, the Chayei Adam paskens it is muttar.
However, he adds that it should not be made in front of an am haaretz. An am haaretz may find it confusing that this case is muttar, and draw conclusions to other cases. The reality is that this heter only applies to a knot which can be untied, although it can be easily mistaken to allow cutting or tearing any knot.
In siman 3, the Chayei Adam discusses a knot which many people leave for longer periods of time, but the person making the knot plans to untie it within 24 hours. For example, if a person ties together two sides of a jacket, they would typically leave one end of the rope permanently tied, and would only tie and untie the other side. Since it is the derech to leave one of the knots permanently tied, it is assur to tie it on Shabbos out of concern that one will change their mind and leave the knot intact for a long period of time. Therefore, the Chayei Adam writes that the string or band inside of their pants that would remain tied for long periods of time is assur to tie on Shabbos.
An example of this situation is if a person ties a single knot with a bow on top of it. Although it is muttar, it is only muttar if the derech is to untie it within 24 hours. If one leaves it for longer, it will be assur. For example, even if one only has a single knot and bow on their shoes, if their derech is to kick off their Shabbos shoes after Shabbos until next Shabbos, without untying them, it would be assur to make that knot on Shabbos. Even if they make the knot on Shabbos with intent to untie it on Motzei Shabbos, since their derech is not to untie it, it becomes assur. This example is unique in that the bow is not considered a knot on its own. However, since it gives permanence to the knot underneath, it cannot be made on Shabbos.
Summary
- If one is having trouble untying a knot which is muttar to untie, they may cut or tear it, but should not do so in front of an am haaretz.
- If a person’s derech is to leave a knot for longer than 24 hours, even if it is a knot which is muttar to untie on Shabbos, it becomes assur to tie or untie it on Shabbos.
