Saturday, January 5, 2013

Looseleaf binders: Muktzeh?

Hi,

Blank paper is muktzeh on Shabbat, because the paper is kept to be used for writing. [The Magen Avraham (308:10) labels this muktzeh machmas chisaron kis.] However, bound volumes which contain some blank pages are not muktzeh.

Looseleaf binders which hold both written material and blank pages are made muktzeh by the blank pages if their collection together is meant to be temporary, allowing one to remove pages permanently at any time. The blank pages should be removed before Shabbos.

Where the pages are meant to stay in the binder long-term, though, with only occasional removal of a page for temporary use, then the binder is not muktzeh.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:21:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. Good morning, I sometimes see students studying on Shabbos. Even if only studying for an exam in Limud haKodesh courses, should they push away the binders and spiral notebooks that include their notes and study from texts only?
    Michael

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Michael,

    It does seem that Rav Moshe would require this, aside from any question regarding the propriety of such studying.

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