Am I allowed to rip something on Shabbat?

Tearing is allowed as long as you are not: 1. Tearing to an exact size or measurement. 2. Tearing any words or letters. 3. Creating a viable utensil through tearing (for example: tearing toilet paper). 4. Tearing apart two attached items.

By Naftali Silberberg

Rabbi Silberberg resides in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Chaya Mushka, and their three children.

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28 Comments

Neal Bloom Bournemouth October 3, 2023

why can I not tear on shabbat? Reply

Simcha Bart October 16, 2023

in response to Neal Bloom:

It can fall under one of two categories Koraya or Mechateich - please see here for a full discussion of this. Reply

Noah June 1, 2023

can we rip a button off a shirt, it is not tearing but it might be viable utensil Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org June 1, 2023

in response to Noah :

If there is a use for the button once it's removed from the shirt, then it's a problem. And if there is no use for the button, then it is muktzeh and may not be touched at all once it's removed. Reply

Mordechai Edel vancouver March 14, 2022

can you use Royale brand tissues on Shabbat ? They are "very slightly attached in two tiny spots " . Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman March 18, 2022

in response to Mordechai Edel:

Tissues that are slightly attached to facilitate taking them out of the box are still problematic on Shabbos. Tearing those attachments may violate the prohibitions against tearing and measuring. See 39 Melachos p. 842, Piskeiy Teshuvos 340:34. Reply

p israel July 23, 2021

so are you allowed to open a juice bottle or milk container etc on Shabbat when they also have perforated sites Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org July 23, 2021

in response to p:

Opening a milk carton is not considered tearing since the glue that keep it closed is only temporary, intended to prevent the milk from spilling out, and is meant to be opened. Bottles with caps that break into two parts (with a ring remaining on the bottle) can be problematic if not opened before Shabbat, but if it is opened on Shabbat then the cap cannot be reused.

Caps that don't break apart are no problem themselves, but the plastic seal around it should be removed without tearing at the perforation. Reply

Rabbi Shmary Brownstein For Chabad.org September 7, 2016

To Anon, Sept 2 Here is what is explained in “The 39 Melochos” by Rabbi Dovid Ribiat (Misrad Hasefer, corrected ed., 2004):
“According to some [authorities]… tearing for any useful purpose is… Koraya M’deoraisa [the Torah prohibition of tearing on Shabbat]. According to this view…tearing off a sheet of toilet paper from the roll… is Koraya M’deoraisa… In the case of toilet paper (that ordinarily has perforated segments), tearing along the perforated line is probably the Melocho of Mechataich (cutting to a measure size)…
“One is not permitted to tear sheets of toilet paper from a roll on Shabbos or Yom Tov, whether the tearing is done along the perforated line or in between… Tearing a sheet of toilet paper from the roll is a “constructive” act of Koraya because a usable sheet is thereby produced.
“Toilet paper should be cut before Shabbos or separated tissues should be used…" Reply

Miriam SC October 17, 2020

in response to Rabbi Shmary Brownstein:

Who set these rules? Was it G-d or man? Reply

Lorraine November 20, 2020

in response to Miriam:

I've never seen it in the Bible anywhere; I do it, but this seems a bit odd to me;about a month ago I tried to contact a synagogue near to where I live, emailed, phoned, no one came back to me - I won't allow anyone to hurt me, pointless going over to Judaism and all the rest, when there is superiority and distance - the "misfit" again, "ha, ha" Reply

Anonymous September 2, 2016

When cutting non-perforated toilet paper, one is not really cutting anything in a shape. Just a piece of paper to be used. I fail to see how that is being creative? Reply

Meira Shana San Diego March 24, 2014

Toilet paper - biblical days? I don't think toilet paper was around in the biblical days.

Clothing was ripped to designate a mourner. Maybe tearing is not allowed on Sabbath because of that.

Then someone decided to use a black ribbon and tear/cut that instead of clothing.

The Hebrew bible has changed over the years ... have there been changes to the Torah, too? Reply

Azriel Brooklyn February 21, 2019

in response to Meira Shana:

G-d forbid, the Torah has not changed. Only our interpretation to use it in modern life. Reply

Yitzchak Shulkin November 20, 2020

in response to Meira Shana:

Great q
The Torah is called 'Gd's Wisdom', and like He, the Torah is infinite and eternal. Accordingly, the Torah is applicable in all times and all situations.

Toilet paper as we have it, around thousands of years ago? No.
Though the Torah *principles* which dictate Gd's will and wisdom have been with us for this time, and the Torah was given to us to understand and apply these or principles in all situations, thus elevating every place and situation to become a special Gdly place/environment.

Look in this thread and/Or ask a loval rabbi if interested to understand me the underlying principles .) Reply

Menachem Brooklyn January 16, 2021

in response to Azriel:

Actually, do your research. The Rabbi's and Sages of Judaism admit at least 18 places where the Torah was changed. Reply

Azriel Brooklyn January 19, 2021

in response to Menachem:

Which Rabbi's, Sages and where? Reply

Anonymous New York, ny June 9, 2013

Clothing tags What about tearing tags off clothes? Reply

Carol Gordon Easton, PA August 25, 2009

tear clothes on Shabbat Can you tear clothes on Shabbat if you put on sack cloth? Reply

Yehuda Shurpin for chabad.org July 15, 2009

re: ripping TP on Shabbos In an instance where one does not have any precut paper, most Halachik authorities are of the opinion that one may tear off the toilet paper in an unusual way. However, one should be careful not to tear it along the perforated lines. Reply

Mike Jacksonville, FL July 12, 2009

toilet paper I thought I read or heard somewhere that if you don't have precut paper etc you can tear toilet paper in an unusual way (e.g. by biting it off). But I'm not sure if this is right. Reply

Tevye Dallas , Texas July 9, 2009

re: ripping TP on Shabbos Thank you, this explains very easily about tearing. We were having a hard time understanding why we couldn't tear TP but it was OK to tear packaging as long as it wasn't letters.

Thanks! Reply

Naftali Silberberg (Author) May 27, 2009

Re: Ripping Toilet Paper Indeed, you have a good point: getting paper off the roll without ripping it is downright difficult...

That is why in Torah-observant homes there's always a healthy stock of pre-cut toilet paper or tissues available for Shabbat use. Reply

Lorraine Heinemann (MS) Western Cape August 22, 2020

in response to Naftali Silberberg (Author):

I did that yesterday (Friday) for the first time, not sure how that "improves" my walk with God, which has been very disappointing all along as I look to people, rejection, criticism, I am looked down on, as I am poor, a senior white divorcee in a country where things are not right Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org August 25, 2020

in response to Lorraine Heinemann (MS):

We don't always see the tangible benefit of observing the Torah laws, that's why it's all about perspective. If you accept that it's the right thing, whether you see the benefit or the not, you will live a happy life. Reply

Francine Zabawa Jacksonville, FL November 9, 2020

in response to Lorraine Heinemann (MS):

I would say to keep doing what G-d asks you to do as it's between you and Him regardless of what others think of you. Try not to get distracted from your own purpose. B'h Reply

Lorraine South Africa August 26, 2020

in response to Eliezer Zalmanov:

I felt better doing it, not tearing and it is not hard work preparing that the day before, I did it for the first time and felt better Reply

Anonymous Indianapolis, IN May 26, 2009

tearing toilet paper Whoa.. "creating a viable utensil" includes tearing toilet paper? How would you otherwise get the paper off of the roll? Surely a correct observance of Shabbat does not preclude the "paperwork" following an ordinary excretory function?" Tell me it 'aint so! Reply

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