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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 - Kosheir 4 - Double Knots and Single Knots (Klal 26-27 Siman 1) S0620
We are continuing in siman 1. The Chayei Adam discusses the idea that even a simple square knot could be considered a Maaseh uman. However, if a person just loops together the two sides of the rope, it will not stay, so it is not considered a maaseh uman or a kesher shel kayama.
The Chayei Adam continues, and writes that if a person ties two sides of the same item together, such as the two sides of a belt, it is not considered a kesher shel kayama, unless one makes a double knot. If we picture a regular square knot, where each end is wrapped under the other, the first step of the knot can be easily pulled out when both ends are from the same item, so it will only be an issue of maaseh uman when a person has two kesharim on top of each other. However, if one makes a knot at the end of a string, such as tying the end of a tzitizis string to prevent it from fraying, even a single knot will last, so even a single knot is considered a maaseh uman.
The Chayei Adam then gives the example of taking two ropes and tying them in the same direction. This example makes the same point as the example of a belt: when there are two ropes pulling away from each other, the knot will last, but when they are going in the same direction, it will not last.
It is interesting that the Chayei Adam, who is following the opinion of the Rema, is defining kosheir primarily as tying two items together. If so, if a person puts a knot at the end of a tzitzis string, they are not tying two things together, so it is hard to understand why they would be chayav. However, in truth, a tzitzis string is an eight-ply string. So when tying a knot at the end, the knot is holding the little strings together. In the second example, of two strings going in the same direction, we meet the criteria of kosheir because there are two strings being tied together.
If one is tying a knot at the end of a one-ply rope, it would seem they should be patur. However, they may be chayav mideoraysa as well. This is because the second understanding of the definition of kosheir is that the kesher itself, even if it is not tying two things together, is inherently significant. This point lends itself to much discussion, but we will move on in the upcoming shiur, be’ezras Hashem.
Summary
The Rema, and the Chayei Adam following him, understand that the maaleh of a craftsman’s knot is it’s physical ability to stay together for a long time, until it is undone.
Therefore , even a single square knot can be considered a maaseh uman, a craftsman’s knot. On the other hand, looping together two ends of the same rope will not stay, so it is neither a craftsman’s knot nor a kesher shel kayama.
Tying even a single knot at the end of a string is considered a maaseh uman and kesher shel kayama (if he plans to leave it there) and is assur.