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Rav Eliyahu Reingold, Rosh Kollel in the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, spent many years learning in the Telshe Yeshiva and Kollel where he was recognized as one of their foremost talmidim. He taught in the Telshe Mechina before coming to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington. He is a noted Baal Halacha and Baal Mussar, serving as a well-respected posek for the Yeshiva and community. Besides his responsibility in leading the Kollel, he delivers a high level shiur to advanced students, and provides many halacha shiurim throughout the year. His heartfelt weekly mussar shmuess in an inspiration to all.
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Meleches Shabbos - Korea 13 - Opening Bottle Caps (Klal 29 Siman 5) S0657
We are at the end of siman 29, and will discuss a few points not mentioned by the Chayei Adam.
The issue of opening bottle caps on Shabbos is not really related to korea, but we will clarify it now nonetheless. One type of cap is the cap on a beer bottle, where a part of the cap is bent up and allows for the remainder to be pulled off. Although some damage occurs to the cap, it is not considered an act of destruction, because it was made for that purpose. Additionally, it is not considered makeh bepatish to the cap, because the cap is now even less usable. There is no opposite to makeh bepatish (as there is, for example between tofair and korea), so making the cap less usable is not a melacha.
If the cap is attached to a ring (eg, standard soda bottles), such that when the cap is twisted, the ring detaches to allow one to remove the cap, some poskim are meikil to allow for opening such a cap, because the cap already exists and is not formed when removed. The poskim who are machmir hold that removing such a cap adds a level of functionality to the cap, because it allows the cap to be easily placed on and off, which it could not do beforehand. These poskim hold that it is makeh bepatish to remove the cap, and some also suggest it is mechateich, because the cap is cut to a specific size by separating it from the ring. According to those poskim, such a bottle should be opened before Shabbos.
The core concern according to the poskim who are machmir is the creation of a useful kli (the cap) through the removal of the cap. Therefore, if one did not open such a bottle before Shabbos, they can still open it on Shabbos itself by demonstrating that it is not meant to be used as a kli. This can be done by making a hole in the cap such that it cannot function as a kli, because a cap with a hole cannot function as a cap. One must be sure to make a slit or hole large enough that it does not still have functionality. At the same time, one must be careful not to cut into any words or letters on the cap when making a hole.
Similarly, one can slice off the top of the bottle or cap to accomplish the same goal.
Some suggest that a metal cover would be more chamur than a plastic cover. One should be concerned for this opinion and be careful to open any metal caps before Shabbos.
Summary
Removing a bottle cap on Shabbos is not an issue of korea. However, it is potentially makeh bepatish and possibly mechateich, because one creates the cap into a kli. One can avoid the issue by making a hole in the cap to undermine that it has no functionality as a kli. Either way, it is preferable to open all caps--especially metal caps--before Shabbos.