Chapter 28
A Miscellany Including Stationery, Clocks, Noises, Baby Carriages, Remuneration and Advance Preparations
BOOKS AND STATIONERY
1.a. 1) One is not permitted to cut or tear apart pages of a book which were not properly cut through in binding.
2) In this connection, there is no distinction between a new book and a book which has already been partly read but in which there remain pages that are still not altogether cut through.
1.b. Concerning pages that have become stuck together with glue or some other material, either at the time of binding or on some other occasion, the situation is as follows:
1) if the pages are stuck together where there is no lettering, they may be separated;
2) if they are stuck together where there is lettering, they may not be separated, since in so doing, one would inevitably erase some of the letters, and this is forbidden on Shabbath and Yom Tov.
2. The views of the halachic authorities differ with regard to the use of books which, on the edges of their leaves, have written or printed inscriptions or pictures that are broken and re-united when the books are opened and closed.
a. Many authorities take a lenient approach and allow such books to be opened and closed.
b. It is, however, proper to adopt a stricter attitude and not to use a book of this kind if one has another available.
c. Certainly, the problem would best be avoided by not writing inscriptions or drawing pictures on the edges of book leaves in the first place.
