We are at the end of siman 29, and will discuss a few points not mentioned by the Chayei Adam. Today, we will discuss tearing toilet paper on Shabbos.
The potential concerns of tearing toilet paper are makeh bepatish, because one is making the item usable; mechateich, because it is being cut to a specific size; and korea. We mentioned sevaros as to why this scenario may not be considered korea. For example, the Shulchan Aruch Harav holds that the melacha of korea requires a binding element which is being torn through the action in question. However, the Biur Halacha rejects the sevara of the Shulchan Aruch Harav, and the poskim do not seem to accept it.
The Biur Halacha writes that, according to the Rambam, tearing a piece of paper to use for lining a frying pan is makeh bepatish. The Biur Halacha asks why the Rambam does not consider it korea, and writes that, if he were not scared, he would suggest a chiddush. His chiddush is that the melacha of korea only applies when both sides of the tear benefit from the action. In the case of the Rambam, only the piece used for frying benefits from the tear, so that is why the Rambam does not mention korea.
The Poskim do not accept this chiddush, and therefore remains a safeik deoraysa about the applicability of the melacha. Thus, when it comes to tearing toilet paper, there is a safeik issur deoraysa of korea.
Some poskim suggest not to tear on the perforations, because of a concern of mechateich, seeing that the entire purpose of the perforations is to cut to a specific size. Being that the reality is that the perforated size is often not a desired size, and people usually take 2 or 3 frames at a time, the perforations only serve as a convenient way to cut the paper and there is no difference between cutting on the perforations and not.
Solutions when one does not have pre-cut toilet paper are:
- To hint to a non-Jew. If the non-Jew asks directly whether he should cut it, one cannot respond “yes”, but can say that it would be beneficial for it to be torn.
- If the non-Jew still does not understand, it is a question of amira lachum on an issur deoraysa, which is normally considered assur. We will clarify alternatives in the upcoming shiur, beezras Hashem.
Summary
- It is assur to cut toilet paper on Shabbos, because it is makeh bepatish, mechateich, and possibly korea.
- One can hint to a non-Jew but cannot tell them directly to tear it. We will discuss this option further in the upcoming shiur, be’ezras Hashem.
