Template:Writing on the Side of Books: Difference between revisions

* The Avnei Neizer 210:1-3 rejects this proof. He argues that [[separating]] two letters isn’t considered [[erasing]] because the letters still exist, but splitting letters horizontally is considered [[erasing]] because the letters become nonexistent. See Rama (ibid.) and Taz 340:2 for resolutions to this difficulty.

* However, Sh"t Rama 119 and Taz 340:2 disagree saying that bringing existing letters together isn't a melacha and since the book is meant to be open and closed it is like opening and closing a door which is certainly permissible and not an issue of [[boneh]] and soter. The Rama's leniency is based on the Gemara [[Shabbat]] (104b) that says that there is a biblical prohibition if a person writes one letter in Tiveriya and one in Tzipori because it is not considered lacking a significant action to bring them together. The Rama infers that moving letters closer to or further from one another is not considered writing or [[erasing]]. Similarly, opening the book doesn’t erase the letters, but merely separates the parts of the letters, and closing the book doesn’t write the letters, but just combines the halves. The Avnei Neizer 210:1-3 rejects this proof. He argues that [[separating]] two letters isn’t considered [[erasing]] because the letters still exist, but splitting letters horizontally is considered [[erasing]] because the letters become nonexistent. See Rama (ibid.) and Taz 340:2 for resolutions to this difficulty. Based on this Avnei Nezer, see also Sh"t Har Tzvi Melechet Kotev 4 writes that even the Levush himself agrees that [[seperating]] two complete letters isn't an issue of writing. He is just concerned of joining and [[separating]] letter fragments but not [[separating]] two whole letters.