Opening Bottles, Cans, and Packages: Difference between revisions

# 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 are 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 reused 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 </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) </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>

# One may not rip through lettering or pictures. <Ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 9:12 </ref>

# 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).] </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> Yalkut Yosef (vol 2, pg 517, 675). See also Rabbi Mordechai Willig’s opinion in Am Mordechai ([[Shabbat]], Siman 29, pg 161). </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 </ref>