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Opening Tea Bag

Can one open up a tea bag on shabbos? The paper that they are packaged in has perforated lines so the paper tears easily when one wants to remove the tea bag? Of course this whole question is having in mind the proper way to make tea on shabbos.

Answer:

It would be permitted to open the bags.

Sources: see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 314:8; Minchas Shlomo, vol. 2, no. 12. The perforations are only made for the bag to tear easily, and there is no matter of being particular for a particular size or measure, so that the question of mechatech does not arise. The general permit of tearing a container in order to reach its contents is derived from a teaching of Yerushalmi, which permits tearing the leather seal of a barrel to reach the wine.

As the question notes, this answer does not cover the question of using a tea bag on Shabbos.

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