These Halachos are based on the rulings of the Mishna Berura (MB) and Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchasa (SSK), reflecting Ashkenazi practice
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Introduction
- As we have previously mentioned, the melachos, forbidden activities on Shabbos, are learned from the melachos done in the Mishkan. In the Mishkan it was necessary to tie and untie in producing nets to catch the chilazon fish to use as a dye, as well as in producing the fabric layers over the Mishkan.
- The basic criteria: The permissibility of tying a knot on Shabbos (or Yom Tov, when the halachos are identical) depends on its permanence, and whether it is a knot which requires skill to produce:
- When a knot is very temporary and requires no skill to make, it may be tied on Shabbos.
- When it is somewhat permanent or requires skill to make (henceforth a ‘skilled knot’), it may not be tied.
- We will define these criteria iyH below (SA 317:1, MB Introduction).
Permanence of the Knot
- The Poskim distinguish between three types of knots:
- Permanent: Those which are tied to last indefinitely, which according to some opinions are forbidden to tie on a Torah level (others also require the knot to be a skilled knot as well in order to be forbidden on a Torah level).
- Intermediate: Those which are tied to last for an intermediate period of time, which are forbidden to tie on a Rabbinic level
- Very Temporary: Those which are tied to be very temporary, which are permitted to tie (unless they are ‘skilled knots’ per the below) (MB 317 Introduction)
- To avoid any ambiguity I have avoided using the terms ‘semi-permanent’ and ‘temporary’ even though linguistically they may be appropriate!
Defining Very Temporary
- Less than 24 hours: A knot which is tied with the intention for it to last for less than 24h is certainly considered very temporary and is permissible to tie if it is an unskilled knot.
- In a case of need, distress or for mitzva purposes we are lenient to permit tying knots with the intention for them to last for less than 7 days (R 317:1, MB6, BH”L 317:4 D”H She’einam, SSK 15:55).
- Going forward, we will reference 24h as the threshold for a knot being one made for an intermediate length of time, given this is the halacha in normal circumstances.
How to Categorise the Permanence of a Knot
- Societal norm vs personal intention: When a type of knot is normally tied in general society with the intention of it lasting in a permanent or intermediate way, it is forbidden to tie it under the melacha of kosher, even if one personally only wishes to tie it for a very temporary amount of time. For example, one may not tie a loose knot on one’s tzitzis with the intention of undoing it within 24h, given such knots are normally tied to be permanent.
- However, this does not work in reverse – if a type of knot is ‘normally’ tied to be very temporary but one wishes to tie it to last in a longer term way, this remains forbidden.
- Personal norm vs current intention: Even when no ‘general’ norm exists, someone who has a ‘personal’ norm to tie a type of knot for a longer period of time may not tie it even if they intend in this instance for it to last less than 24h. For example, if a woman tends to leave a loose double knot in her scarf (which we explain below is not a skilled knot) and not untie it on a daily basis, she may not tie it on Shabbos even if she specifically intends to untie it within 24h. As above, one would not be lenient in reverse to permit tying for more than 24h in this instance if one’s norm is to normally untie within 24h.
- Note that some are lenient to permit tying a knot with the intention of it being very temporary even if the general norm or one’s personal norm is to tie it for an intermediate amount of time (given this is at most a Rabbinic prohibition). Consult a Rav where practical guidance is required.
- When no such ‘general’ or ‘personal’ norm exists for how long a type of knot is tied, its permissibility depends on how long the one tying it intends for it to last (BH”L 317:1 D”H HaKosheir, Dirshu 317:3, SSK 15:55, fn 170, OS 10:20, PT 317:4,).
Skilled vs Unskilled Knots
- As per our introduction, when we have said a knot may be tied based on it being very temporary, this is only if it is unskilled, which we will now go on to define.
- Defining Skilled Knots: Chazal give the examples of the knots of camel riders and sailors as being ‘skilled knots’ which are forbidden to tie.
- Double Knots: However, the Rema writes that we do not have a clear tradition on exactly what range of knots are included under this definition and therefore we are strict not to tie any kind of double knot, even on a very temporary basis, as we presume any tight knot that won’t come apart by itself is a skilled knot.
- Looping string back on itself: Similarly, it is forbidden to tie a single knot by looping the end of a string back on itself, as is common to tie on the end of tzitzis strings, given that such a knot is tight (R 317:1, MB 1, 14).
- In cases of distress: Nontheless, in a case of distress, one may be lenient and untie a basic double knot which was tied to be very temporary (R 317:1).
- Loose double knots: The practice is for women to tie double knots in their scarves; given such double knots are not tight (and care should be taken to ensure they are not), we are not concerned these are skilled knots, so they may be tied, but only to last for less than 24h (SSK 15:55, fn175, Dirshu 317:16).
Untying Knots on Shabbos
- The melacha of untying knots (mattir) mirrors the melacha of tying them (kosheir). Therefore, the knots we have described above, and will go on to describe on the next page, as being forbidden to tie on Shabbos may not be untied on Shabbos either; whereas those which may be tied may similarly be untied (R 317:1, SSK 15:58)
Tightening Knots
- Any knot which is forbidden to tie and has become loose may not be tightened on Shabbos. For example, if the top knot on a pair of tzitzis becomes loose, it may not be tightened (SSK 15:54).
