Opening Bottles, Cans, and Packages: Difference between revisions

Opening a bottle or can on [[Shabbat]] can involve a number of issues and the details of the opinions and cases in which they apply are described below. Please note, that these laws equally apply to [[Shabbat]] as they do to [[Yom Tov]]. <ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:22 (See also Sh"t Igrot Moshe 1:122) </ref>

# To avoid all forbidden activities with opening bottles and cans on [[Shabbat]], it's preferable to open the bottles and cans before [[Shabbat]]. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:1, [[Shabbos]] Kitchen (Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, pg 184) </ref>

# If a container (bag, can, or bottle) is usually reused after having been emptied, it is forbidden to open whether or not one intends to reuse it. <ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:2, [[Shabbos]] Kitchen (pg 187-8) similarly forbids opening wrappers, bags, and boxes, unless one rips it to the extent that the bag is unusable afterwards and one is careful about not [[ripping]] the letters.  </ref>

# If a container is usually used to keep the original contents after having been opened, but not usually reused, it’s forbidden to open on [[Shabbat]]. However, some are lenient if one really intends not to reuse it and one does not make a neat convenient opening. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:3 </ref>

# It is permissible to open a container (which is usually re-used or at least used to keep the original contents) if at the time of the opening (or beforehand) one ruins the container by perforating the side or bottom so that it could no longer be used. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:3, Orchos Shabbos pg. 369, 39 Melachos (R’ Ribiat, vol 3, pg. 831)). Chazon Ovadia v. 5 p. 365, Menuchat Ahava 3:16:4, Or Letsion 27:7 cited by Tiferet 314:24 are lenient to rip food packages in order to eat the food. </ref>

# It's permissible to rip open a miniature pack of sugar which is thrown out right after it's opened. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:4. </ref> Similarly, one may rip open a candy wrapper, bandaid wrapper, plastic or paper seal around wine bottles or jars because these are usually ripped and discarded immediately. <ref>39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 3, pg 833). Chazon Ish (51:11) says that even if you have intent to throw it out, it’s still forbidden because you might end up using it. Additionally, if you don’t empty it right away, the bag acts as a kli in regards to its contents. Finally, the Chazon Ish suggests that your intent is irrelevant; in the end of the day, you’re still making a kli. It should be noted that Minchas Yitzchak 4:82:36 believes that the Chazon Ish was only talking about when you specifically have intent to not throw it out, but he would actually agree that if it is generally thrown out, it would be permitted.<br/>  </ref>

# It’s forbidden to take special care to rip a neat hole to be used as a opening or to rip open a container along the lines marked for perforation. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:5-6 </ref>

# It’s permitted to remove the staples from a container stapled shut. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:9 </ref>

# Cardboard boxes closed with gummed paper or tape, papers stuck together, or a paper wrapper may be (ripped) opened on [[Shabbat]] only if one ruins the box in a way that it’s unusable as a container afterwards (nor is any part of it useful which is violated if one tears along the edge of prize tokens printed on the wrapper). <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:10-12 </ref>

# Some authorities forbid using plastic or wire twist ties (twisters) to close bags unless one plans to undo it within 24 hours. <ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:13, 14:9 and (15 note 166, in the new edition note 174) quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman </ref> However, others permit. <ref> 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, Melechat [[Koshair]] note 54) quoting Rav Moshe Feinstein </ref> It is praiseworthy to avoid using them if they will remain undone for more than 24 hours. <ref>39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 3, pg 800) </ref>

# It’s permissible to rip or cut string that’s used to close a container if it’s impossible to remove the string otherwise as long as cutting spoils it for later use. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:14 </ref>

# The Ashkenazic custom is to avoid [[ripping]] letters when opening a package on [[Shabbat]], while the Sephardic custom is to be lenient in this issue. <Ref> Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 9:13 (quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach) rules it is only rabbinically forbidden to rip through letters when opening a package, as is not considered [[erasing]] in order to write.  

# One may not close a bag with a metal or plastic twister. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:13 </ref>

# Ashkenazic poskim hold that one may not open a bottle with a metal cap for the first time on [[Shabbos]] because removing the cap separates the ring from the cap and makes the cap into a useable vessel. One may make a hole using a knife in the cap if there aren’t letters or pictures on it so that makes it unfit for a cap afterwards and then one may open the bottle. <Ref> Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:17 (new edition 9:18), [[Shabbos]] Kitchen (Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, pg 184-6). [39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 3, pg 841) writes that a less preferable option is to twist off the cap and discard it immediately (and it may be useful to have another cap handy).]</ref> However, it’s permissible to open a bottle with a plastic bottle cap (because it had the form of a cap before it was attached).<ref> Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:17 (new edition 9:18), [[Shabbos]] Kitchen (Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, pg 184-6). [39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 3, pg 841) writes that a less preferable option is to twist off the cap and discard it immediately (and it may be useful to have another cap handy).] Rav Shlomo Zalman explains that it is forbidden to open a bottle cap for the first time on Shabbos because in the process one is creating a new kli, i.e. a bottle cap that can now be used to cover bottles. While it was attached to the bottle it was not yet a kli, because it could not be screwed on and off of a bottle, which Rav Shlomo Zalman considers the key function of a bottle cap. (Minchas Shlomo 2:32) Also, if one was to break the bottle and slide off the cap as is, without breaking off the ring, it would not be functional as a cap at all. (Minchas Shlomo 1:91:12)<br/> However, Rav Shlomo Zalman distinguishes between a metal bottle cap and a plastic bottle cap. The above issues are all in regards to a metal bottle cap. A plastic bottle cap is different, because the ring is thinner, and majority of it is not attached to the cap. Therefore, it is recognizable that the ring is a separate entity from the cap itself and is meant to be removed. Based on this, Rav Shlomo Zalman paskins that it is forbidden to open metal bottle caps and permitted to open plastic bottle caps.<br/> Rav Ribiat thinks that the plastic caps that Rav Shlomo Zalman allows, which were from Eretz Yisrael, are different from the plastic caps that we have in America. (39 Melachos Makeh B’Patish footnote 96c). See Meor HaShabbos page 482 who offers a new leniency for plastic caps after researching the production of plastic soda bottles.</ref> Some poskim are strict even with plastic <ref> Rav Elyashiv (quoted in Orchos Shabbos Perek 12 footnote 31 says that they are all assur to open. Rav Elyashiv holds it’s forbidden to open both metal and plastic caps because of mechateich. Also, Rav Nissim Karelitz (Chut Shani 2:37) says that even by plastic there is an issue of metakein kli. </ref> Some Ashkenazic poskim and Sephardic poskim hold it’s permissible to open bottles with metal or plastic caps but add that one who is strict to open them before [[Shabbat]] will be blessed. <ref> Rav Ovadia Yosef in Sh"t Yechave Daat 2:42, Halichot Olam v. 4 p. 246 cited by Tiferet 314:7, and Yalkut Yosef (vol 2, pg 517, 675). Rav Ovadia Yosef disagrees with both points of Rav Shlomo Zalman. He thinks that even while the cap is attached to the bottle it is considered a kli since it is covering the bottle (Yechave Daat 2:42). Also, if you would be able to take it off without breaking the ring, even though it wouldn’t fit over a bottle of the same size, it would technically still be usable to cover (albeit not via screwing) a smaller bottle. (Response to Rav Shlomo Zalman quoted in Yalkut Yosef Shabbos Krach Bet 314:18:20) Additionally, the Magid Mishnah (Hil’ Shabbos 12:2) holds that metakein kli is completely permitted if you don’t have intent. Combining his above reasoning with the Magid Mishnah’s leniency, Rav Ovadia paskins that it is permitted to open bottle caps for the first time on Shabbos. Rav Shlomo Zalman disagrees with Rav Ovadia's application of the Magid Mishnah. He explains that even though your main intent is for the drinking, it’s also on your mind to make a cap that would be usable in the future. Nonetheless, Rav Ovadia paskins that it is permitted, and does not differentiate between metal and plastic bottle caps. See also Rabbi Mordechai Willig’s opinion in Am Mordechai ([[Shabbat]], Siman 29, pg 161). Rav Willig agrees that it is permitted. The bottle cap was a kli even before you broke off the ring, and the issur metakein kli is only when you create a kli, not when you merely alter the function of a preexisting kli. (Am Mordechai Siman 29:3) </ref>

# It’s permissible to puncture the lid of a vacuum sealed jar in order to open a jar. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:21 </ref>

# If one opened a can, bag, bottle or other container in a prohibited way, one may still eat the food on [[Shabbat]]. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:23. Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata (9 fnt. 76, 10 fnt. 44) explains that food in a container isn't muktzeh even if opened in a forbidden way since the container is only an obstacle (Rashba, Ran Beitzah 31b, Magen Avraham 518:14) and also there are permitted ways to open it. </ref>