Kotaiv: Difference between revisions

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[[Writing on Shabbat]] is one of the 39 primary melachot of [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Mishna [[Shabbat]] 7:2, Daf 73a. Rashi 73a says that writing is counted among the melachot because in the mishkan they would write on each board of the Mishkan in order to return it to its correct place whenever the Mishkan was reassembled </ref> The topic of [[erasing on Shabbat]] is dealt with on a its own page.

==Introduction==

# One who writes two letters on [[shabbat]] is chayav for the melacha of kotaiv, but if one letter is significant enough that qualifies as well. <ref> Mishna in Masechet [[Shabbat]] 73a writes that the prohibited melacha is for two letters but the gemara 104b says if it is one letter that finishes off the book, you are also obligated. The Avnei Nezer 201 explains that this is because it gives it significance. </ref>     

# Writing any kind of letter or symbol (that represents some idea) is forbidden under Kotaiv. <Ref> Rambam [[Shabbat]] 11:9. Beiur Halacha 340:4  b'mashkin writes that based on [[Shabbat]] Yerushalmi 7:2 that if you draw a picture you are liable </ref>

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

# 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>