1. Question: [Thursday, 23^rd Teves 5781]

May sticky note placeholders be used on Shabbos? Basically, I have little sticky notes that I used as page holders in my Sefarim, and I would like to know if it’s permitted for me to take them off and put them on another page, as a placeholder. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but the sticky notes are actually manufactured for this purpose to be used as page holders.

Answer:

It is forbidden to be used on Shabbos whether to remove them from a page or to stick them back onto a page. Their manufacturing purpose is irrelevant.

Explanation: It is forbidden to glue stuff together on Shabbos due to a sewing prohibition, and it is rabbinically forbidden to do so even if it is only meant to last temporarily. It is likewise forbidden to remove even temporary glued items from a page due to the tearing prohibition, with exception to certain circumstances.

Sources: See Admur 340:12 and 17; 317:7 [permitted for scholar to remove temporary sewing not in the face of an ignoramus]; See the following Sefarim regarding the similar discussion if the sewing and tearing prohibition applies to the adhesive part of a diaper, however in this case that the placeholder is meant to last for as long as needed it would be forbidden according to all: Minchas Yitzchak 8:31; 9:41; Mishneh Halachos 8:60; Kinyan Torah 5:26; Lehoros Nasan brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos 340 footnote 101; Sheivet Halevy 5:31; Az Nidbaru 6:31; Yechaveh Daas 6:25, Tzitz Eliezer 16:6; Beir Moshe 6:14; SSH”K 15:81

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