The purpose of this column is to bring awareness to matters of halacha. As with any halacha-related questions, consult your rav for a psak.
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of knot and the amount of time intended for it to last can change the halachic status of the knot.2 Practically speaking, the halacha says that only knots that aren’t made professionally and are made to last less than 24 hours (or, in a case of need, less than one week) are muttar to make and undo on Shabbos.3 The poskim say that since today we are not experts in what is considered a professional knot, one should not make any knot that is tight enough that it wouldn’t undo itself with time.4 Examples of these assur types of knots are a knot over a knot (i.e., a double knot) or a single knot at the end of one string.5 These types of knots are assur to make, even if one has in mind to undo them within a day. A bow that is made on top of a single knot is not considered a professional knot. Accordingly, one is allowed to make a bow on top of a single knot, if one has in mind to undo it within a day (or, in a time of need, within a week) of tying it.6 Similarly one may untie such a knot if at the time of making the knot, one had in mind to undo it within a day (or, again, in a time of need, within a week). When tying shoes, dresses, bags, etc., one may make a bow on top of a single knot in a way that one can undo it by pulling on one string, as long as he has in mind to undo it within a day. Similarly, one may undo such a knot if at the time of making the knot one had in mind to undo it in less than a day (or, in a time of need, within a week). However, one may not make a knot on top of a knot (a double knot) or undo it since that is considered a tight knot that is assur to make on Shabbos. However, intent does not play a factor when it comes to a knot that people usually, or even sometimes, tie to last forever. Such a knot, regardless of whether the person who makes it has in mind to undo it before then, is still assur to make. Therefore, one may not tie or even tighten the knot of tzitzis, even if one has in mind to undo it within a day since it is usually made to last.7 Based on this, for those who leave their shoes tied forever, even when taking them off and putting them back on, it is assur for them to tie their shoes on Shabbos, even with the intention to undo them within a day.8 So when Mommy wants to tie Sarala’s bow even tighter with a double-bow knot, she is essentially making a double knot, which is assur on Shabbos.9 And when putting on Moishy’s bib, just be sure to tie it in a bow on top of a single knot while having in mind to undo it within the day.
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