1. A Door Opener. If one’s door knob falls off on Shabbos, it is prohibited to even loosely place the doorknob back in the handle to open the door because (i) it resembles the melacha of boneh--building; and (ii) the doorknob is muktzeh. There is also the possibility that a person might continue to completely rebuild it (shemah yetokah). Instead, one should use a knife, bobby pin, handle of a spoon, or, if necessary, a screwdriver to open the door (The 39 Melachos, Rabbi Dovid Ribiat, Shlita, Volume IV, page 1090).
2. Shabbos Bows. One is permitted to make bows on Shabbos, but only for items which typically would come apart on Shabbos (i.e., are not meant to last more than one day), such as shoe laces. Accordingly, when one’s trash bag is full, he should not close it by tying a bow on top, since he never intends to open it afterwards (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 317, Mishne Berurah, seif katan 29).
3. Shabbos Nap. The Mishne Berurah (Orach Chayim 8, seif katan 42) writes that if one naps during the day, one should leave his tzitzis on, or at least cover himself with his tzitzis, because there is a Machlokes Haposkim as to whether sleeping is a “hesech hadaas,” requiring a new brocha on the tzitzis. Note: One should consult with his Rav as to the necessity of making a new brocha of Al Mitzvas Tzitzis when putting back on his tzitzis (and certainly when putting on a specially-designated pair of “Shabbos tzitzis”) after bathing on Erev Shabbos.
Additional Note: The Mishne Berurah (Orach Chayim 8, seif katan 26) makes the following incredible statement: “It appears from Kesuvim that the Jews who will be left at the End of Days will be metzuyanim in the mitzvah of tzitzis, as the posuk states…and as Chazal teach….” It would seem that there is no better time than now to be especially careful and exacting in the performance of this mitzvah.
Important Numbers
