Tofer

From Halachipedia

Tofer

  1. Gluing together two papers or leathers with glue is forbidden. [1] Gluing two pieces of wood is forbidden. [2]
  2. Tofer is forbidden even if it’s a temporary connection. [3]

Stapling

  1. Stapling is also forbidden. [4]

Diaper

  1. Most authorities permit putting on a diaper on Shabbat by sticking the tabs of the diaper to the diaper. [5]
  2. Nonetheless, one should be careful and open the diaper slowly so that one doesn’t rip it and leave the tabs attached permanently. [6]
  3. One should not use the sticky tabs in order to close it up in order to throw it out since it’s considered permanent. [7]

Buttons

  1. Buttons are permissible to open and close. [8]

Safety pins

  1. Many authorities permit using a safety pin on Shabbat. [9]
  2. Sh”t Bear Moshe 1:36 permitted to remove the plastics off the tabs on Shabbat.

Zipper

  1. Zippers can be opened and closed on Shabbat. [10] However, some are strict not to zip the inner lining of a winter coat into the coat because it is meant to be there a long period of time. [11]

Velcro

  1. Velcro is permissible to open and close on Shabbat. [12]

References

  1. S”A 340:14 writes that gluing two papers together is forbidden because of Tofer.
  2. Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 340:14 there
  3. Rama 317:3 brings two opinions and concludes that one shouldn’t be lenient in front of an Am HaAretz.
  4. Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 28:5
  5. Minchat Yitzchak (Dayan Weiss) is strict on diapers. Sh”t Bear Moshe 6:14 is lenient about using pampers on Shabbat since it’s only a temporary connection. Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 16:6 is lenient because it isn’t not even considered temporary. 39 Melachot (Rabbi Ribiat; pg 813) permits since the tabs are made to be used that way. Children in Halacha (Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen; pg 212-3) is lenient. See http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipDate=7/25/2005.
  6. Sh”t Yacheve Daat 6:23
  7. 39 Melachot (Rav Ribiat; pg 814), Rabbi Mansour (http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipDate=7/25/2005) holds similarly.
  8. Sh”t Igrot Moshe 2:84 permits
  9. Korban Netanel (Shabbat perek klal gadol 7:50) forbids using a safety pin on Shabbat by putting the safety pin through a cloth. However, the achronim including Sh”t Igrot Moshe 2:84, Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 15:70, and Kitzur Hilchot Shabbat (pg 67) permit because the pin doesn’t connect the two objects but rather keeps them close together like buttons.
  10. Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 15:74 (in the note quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman), Sh”t Betzel Chachma 3:92, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 3, pg 818), and The Shabbos Home (Rabbi Simcha Cohen, vol 1, pg 75) permit using a zipper on Shabbat. However, Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 3:51 is strict unless one plans on unzipping in a short period of time. Rav Shechter (quoted by Rabbi Rosner between minutes 37:30 and 38:30) is strict for this opinion and doesn’t zipper his Shabbat talit bag because of this.
  11. In footnote to 39 Melachos (melacha Tofer #18 he quotes Rav Yacov Kamenetsky who was strict regarding a winter coat which had a linig that was zipped in for a long period of time. [www.thehalacha.com%2Fattach%2FVolume3%2FIssue14.pdf Halachically Speaking] quotes Rav Yisrael Belsky who is also strict regarding zipping the inner lining of a winter coat because it is left there for a long period of time.
  12. Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 15:79