Tearing Paper

Asked by AR · April 23, 2004 · Shabbat

Question

In reference to this answer below, if you are in a bathroom on Shabbos with only a roll of paper you can tear the paper. Does it matter if its on the perforation or not? AR how do we know when we are allowed to tear and when we are not allowed?

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

You can tear if you are tearing something in order to get to something else. Like a bag of whatever that you are opening to get out the whatever. You cannot tear if you are needing the item that you are tearing, like a paper towel off of a roll of paper towels. You cannot tear if it is to fix or enhance something, like a label off your raincoat or a string pulling from your necktie. AA