Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 315:8-15

Sugya Map

• Issue: The definition of Melechet Tofair (Sewing) regarding temporary attachment of items (davar she-eino mitkayem).
• Nafka Mina: Is a temporary knot or seam prohibited mide’oraita or miderabanan? Does the Arukh HaShulchan (AHS) broaden the leniency of iruy (temporary) beyond the standard definitions?
• Primary Sources: Shabbat 74b, Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 315:1, Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 315:8-15.

Text Snapshot

• Text: "וכל דבר שאינו עשוי להתקיים – פטור" (Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 315:8).
• Nuance: The AHS shifts from the classic melacha focus to the kavanat ha-po'el (intent of the worker). Note the dikduk: he uses "עשוי" (made) to imply that the object’s inherent nature—not just current intent—governs the status of tofair.

Readings

• Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Shabbat 10:11): Defines tofair strictly through durability. The AHS interprets this as an ontological state: if it is "meant" to be temporary, the melacha lacks tikkun (repair).
• Mishnah Berurah (MB 315:35): Argues that even if it can be temporary, if one intends it to be permanent, it is forbidden. The AHS is more lenient, focusing on the objective utility of the seam.

Friction

• Kushya: If the definition of tofair is based on davar she-eino mitkayem, why does the Gemara (Shabbat 74b) imply that even temporary sewing is prohibited miderabanan?
• Terutz: AHS asserts that the gezeirah only applies where the tikkun is recognizable. If the attachment is inherently transient, there is no ma'aseh of sewing at all, rendering it mutar l'chatchila.

Intertext

• Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 317:1: Parallels the Koshair (Tying) prohibition, where the Arukh HaShulchan consistently applies a "durability" heuristic to mitigate issurei d'oraita.

Psak/Practice

The AHS allows for temporary fasteners (like clips or temporary stitches) if the tikkun is not intended to endure, moving the needle away from the stringent Chazon Ish approach.

Takeaway

In Tofair, kavanah (intent) is not just a mental state; it is the physical definition of the melacha. If the repair isn't meant to last, the tikkun never occurred.