Does the issur d’oraisso of writing apply to lashon hakodesh only or does it encompass other languages as well?

The Mishna in Shabbos 103a says that one is chayav for writing two letters in any language – 'bechol lashon'. The Bi’ur Halacha [1] writes that except for the Ohr Zarua, [2] all the Rishonim concur that writing in any language is a violation of an issur d’oraisso.

What is the halacha if one writes a single letter in one place and another letter somewhere else - is it an issur d’oraisso?

We must first state that writing one letter is an issur d’oraisso but in order for the violator to be liable for bringing a korban chatas  two letters must have been written.

Another interesting halacha is that for two letters to be considered a proper melacha they must be written in such a way that they could be read together.

The source for this halacha is the Mishna in Shabbos 104b, which says the following: One who writes a single letter on the ceiling and a single letter on the floor is pottur (not liable) for bringing a korban. The Mishna continues, if one writes on two different walls (not adjacent to each other in the corner) one is pottur because they cannot be read together.

If however one would write a single letter on two separate pieces of paper one would be chayav because the two pieces can be held next to each other and read as one.

Is there an issur to write with one’s mouth?

 

A          An issur d’rabanan there certainly is, but it is not an issur d’oraisso because it is a deviation from the normal way of writing. It is interesting to note that the halacha is that one must write a sefer torah, tefilin and mezuzos in the normal writing manner, and if a right-handed person writes with his left hand they are not kosher. [3] The Mishna Berura brings a case [4] where someone in Egypt wrote with his mouth and the poskim ruled that it was not kosher being that it was a deviation from the normal manner of writing.

What is the status of drawing figures or pictures on Shabbos?

The Rambam writes [5] that one is chayav for drawing a picture, being that it is a Toladah of the melacha of 'kosev' – writing. The Bi’ur Halacha [6] understands from the Yerushalmi (the Rambam’s source) that one would be chayav for drawing a single picture, [7] unlike letters where the liability to bring a korban is for writing two letters. The reason is probably because in the Mishkan it required two symbols (letters, numbers etc.) in order to make a relationship between two letters written on the planks, but a drawing or picture stands on its own and does not require a partner.

Accordingly, when tearing a wrapper in the permitted manner one must take precaution that letters or drawings are not torn, [8] because in effect one is erasing the letters and drawings.

Would it not be similar to the halacha mentioned in the Rama (cited in the previous shiur) where he holds that one may open a book with writing on the edge?

First of all we mentioned that many poskim argue on the Rama and therefore when there is an option one should l’chatchila not open such a book. However, one could differentiate between the two cases. A book is made to be opened and closed and therefore the Rama does not see the letters as being erased, whereas a wrapper is permanently ripped or torn and the “erasing” of the letters is permanent.

Would tearing between the letters be a problem?

No, tearing between letters is not called erasing [9] even though a word is “erased”. The reason is because placing a piece of paper with a letter written on it next to a similar piece of paper is not called writing even though one has “joined” two letters, so too the separation of such letters would not be called erasing. [10]