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Breaking a Lock on Shabbos

Would breaking a lock on a door on Shabbos be a problem of stira in regards to the binyan or only stira in regards to a cli?

Answer:

The lock of the door is part of the door itself, and breaking the lock is therefore considered an act of stira with regard to the binyan.

The poskim who discuss breaking down a door on Shabbos do not make a distinction between the lock of the door and the door itself, implying that both are considered a potential de’oraisah problem, because of the door being attached to the house.

Note that if breaking the door/lock is done in a destructive and unprofessional manner, without a view to future fixing, this would still not be considered a de’oraisa, because it is a kilkul (destructive).

See Shevet Halevi 7:39; haskamah of Rav Ovadyah Yosef to Pnei Kohen, 314 (they discuss another question, of whether the constructive intention of the Jew makes a difference).

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