Tearing

Question

Dear Aaron: 1. I thought "tearing" was different than "cutting" the latter being ossur when it is done to size which is the issur of Machateik. When paper towel etc. has sheets that have been perforated by tearing on the lines you are cutting it to specific size which is the issur. Tearing a bag open however, I thought, was just Mkalkel as you have no need for the bag. 2. To take this a step further many jars and bottles have shrinkwrapped plastic (security seals on the top) that are perforated so it's easier to open. Those perforations are not for cutting to size ( the plastic seal goes right into the garbage) but just for ease of use, so perhaps those would not be Machateik, no diiferent than a perforated opening on a box of tissue which I believe you said was okay. ( although the tissue box opening is being cut to size perhaps we don't care that much about the specific size but rather we care just for any opening) 3. Tissues that are connected in the box are really separate tissue ( no cutting required) and have just 1 or 2 small connections so one will follow the other. Maybe the issur there ( if there is one ) should be makeh bpatesh? Sorry for the length of the post but this is real learning. Chanan