Melacha #23: TOFER - SEWING and Melacha #24: KORAY'AH - TEARING (UN-SEWING)

Av Melacha: Sewing pieces of woven cloth (curtains) together.

Principle: Tightly binding two flexible surfaces by means of a third material.

Toldot: Tofer -- Gluing or stapling

Note: Koray'ah (i.e. detaching) is the reverse form of Tofer, but is only Torah-prohibited when it is done for a constructive purpose. Therefore the undoing of any action prohibited in Tofer is a violation of Koray'ah.

A. Gluing:

1. It is prohibited to glue together any [two] flexible materials in a permanent fashion, e.g. with glue or cellophane tape. This is true even if one object is being glued onto itself. (Gluing non-flexible materials will be in violation of other Melachot.)

2. It is prohibited to open packages along the glued seams. Packages or bags that are sealed by heat may be opened along these seams, since no glue or other third substance was used to seal them together.

3. According to some opinions, it is prohibited to remove the protective strip on the sticky parts of a band-aid or disposable diaper. Ideally one should prepare the diapers before Shabbat, by removing the protective covering and fastening it again. (Since this gluing is "very temporary," it is permitted.) After use, one should not re-attach the tabs on the diaper before throwing it out.

4. It is permitted to use zippers and Velcro on Shabbat, since their essential use is only temporary.

5. Pages of a book that are accidentally glued together may be separated in time of need. Pages of a new book, which were cut but still stick together, may be separated while using the book.

B. Safety Pins (generally temporary in nature):

1. If one intends to close the pin for an extended period of time, it is permitted to pierce the layers once; it is prohibited to pierce the layers twice.

2. If the pin is to be closed for a short period of time, it is permitted to even pierce the layers twice (e.g. pinning instead of a button).

A straight pin is prohibited to affix in an "in-out-in" manner.