Kotaiv: Difference between revisions

# Writing any kind of letter or symbol (that represents some idea) is forbidden under Kotaiv. <Ref> Rambam Shabbat 11:9 </ref>

# Affixing letters to a surface is also considered Kotaiv. <Ref> Magan Avraham 340:10, Mishna Brurah 340:22 (8) </ref>Examples include:  

*    Attaching letters to a wallpaper,  

*    Placing magnetic letters to a board

*    Arranging edible letters onto a cake.  

*    Snapping Scrabble letter tiles into fitted groves

# However if the letters exist on a surface already it’s permissible to arrange them in an order. <Ref> Sh”t Igrot Moshe O”C 1:135 </ref>Examples include:

*    Arranging number cards in front of the shul to show congregants the correct page number  

*    Lining up numbers of a combination lock <ref> Tzitz Eliezer vol 13 Siman 44, Bezel Chachma vol Siman 78, Shevet HaKehati vol 2 Siman 153, Shalmei Yehuda 3:!6 in the name of Rav Elyashiv Shlita, Mishnat Halachot vol  5 Siman 48, Chelkat Yacov vol 3 Siman 150, Divrei Shalom vol 4 Siman 51 </ref>

*    Playing a game that entails placing numbered tiles adjacent to one another

# If ink or wax fell on writing one should not erase the ink or wax because that would be erasing in order to write. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 340:10 </ref>

*    If this is found in a Torah during Torah reading, if one can read the letter through the wax the Torah is fit to be read, but if it’s not readable some say to take out another Torah and some say just to read that word by heart. <Ref> Yabea Omer vol. 4 Orach Chaim 15:3, Mishna Brurah 340:10 </ref>

# If a book ripped in the place of words, it’s permissible to place the pieces next to one another to read it if one doesn’t have another of these books. <Ref> Mishnat Halachot vol 6 Siman 89, Beir Moshe vol 6 Siman 125, Shemirat Shabbat KeHalacha 28:3, Igrot Moshe Y”D vol 2 Siman 75 D”H “VeDvar HaDaf” </ref>

# One can brake a cake or cookie that has words printed in or on it if the writing is made of the food itself, but if the letters are made of food coloring or hard sugar one should be strict to brake the letters only in one’s mouth as one eats, nonetheless there is what to rely on to be lenient. <Ref> Sh”t Yabea Omer O”C 4:38, Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 11:20, Sh”t Beir Moshe 6:92, Sh”t Az Nidabru 10:8 Sh”t Vayeshev Moshe 1:4 </ref>

# It’s permissible to use a thermometer for which letters appear if the person has fever and when it’s removed from the person the letters disappear. [A digital thermometer is forbidden because using it completes an electric circuit.] <ref> Sh”t Yechva Daat 4:29, Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 14:30 concludes that if a regular thermometer is available one shouldn’t use this type of thermometer, Minchat Ahava 22:19, Kinyan Torah 3:39 </ref>

# It’s permissible to walk in shoes that have words etched into the soles that form words when walking on dirt or snow. <Ref> Yabea Omer O”C 5:28, Az Nidaberu 8:21, Beir Sharim 2:67, 3:38:3.  </ref>

# It’s forbidden to write on a table with liquids on his finger.  <Ref> S”A 340:4, Mishna Brurah 340:19 </ref>

# Fingerprinting (dipping one’s finger into ink and then placing it on paper) is forbidden as it forms a meaningful image. <Ref> Shemirat Shabbat KeHalachata 41:75, Eretz Tzvi Siman 71,Yeshuot Moshe 1:70, Shuirim Metzuiim BeHalacha 80:55, Chelekat Yakov 3:25, Nachalat Ezra Hadaya O”C 1:7, Vayeshev Moshe 1:62 </ref>

# One can mark (not in the form a letter) a parchment by the press his nail because it doesn’t last, yet it’s preferable not because some forbid this. <Ref> S”A 340:5, Birkei Yosef 340:5 that Or Zaruah and Smak forbid, Beir Halacha D”H “Mutar”  </ref> According to everyone it’s forbidden to mark a paper as it’s soft and the mark will last. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 340:25 </ref>

# One may fold the page of a book to mark the place even if the crease leaves a lasting mark. <Ref> Menuchat Ahava 22:25, Shevet Hakehati 1:130 writes that it’s better not to fold the pages even during the week so as not to disrespect the sefer. Rivivot Efraim 1:223 (11) </ref>

# One may signal in the air, water or on a dry board in the form of letters if it doesn’t leave any mark. <Ref> Rama 340:4, Mishna Brurah 340:22, Shar Tzion 340:28 </ref>

# Taking a photograph is forbidden as it draws an image, but one does not have to avoid being in a picture taken by a non-Jew for his own purposes. <Ref> Mayim CHaim O”C 1: 145, Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:26, Rivivot Efraim 3:230 </ref>