DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Yehoshua ben Sarah (Alfred Sutton)

Dedicated By
His Children and Grandchildren

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 582 KB)
Laws of Sovea -Is It Permissible To Use A Napkin To Wipe Strawberries or A Similar Coloring Item From Your Face on Shabbat

The Shulchan Aruch writes (320:20) that if on Shabbat a person partakes of strawberries or other foods that leave a colored residue, he may not clean his face with a cloth, as he thereby "colors" the cloth, in violation of the Shabbat prohibition of Tzovei'a (dyeing). Halacha does not forbid eating such foods, despite the "coloring" of one's face and lips that often results, but the coloring of the cloth would, indeed, be included under this prohibition.

The Radbaz (Rabbi David Ben Zimra, Egypt, 1480-1574) in Helek 4, Siman 1201) disagrees, claiming that wiping one's face has the effect of soiling the cloth, and this therefore does not constitute dyeing. He adds that he never saw anybody make a point of not cleaning his mouth after eating strawberries and the like on Shabbat.

Nevertheless, since the Shulchan Aruch rules stringently in this regard, a person who wishes to clean his face on Shabbat after eating foods that leave a colored residue should first wash his face with water and only then wipe it with a cloth. If no water is available, then he may clean his face with a cloth even without water.

It should be noted that this Halacha applies only to cloth napkins; one may use disposable, paper napkins to clean his face on Shabbat, and he is not required to first wash his face with water.

Summary: If one eats foods such as strawberries that leave colored residue on his face, he may clean his face with a disposable napkin. He should not clean his face with a cloth napkin until he first removes the residue with water.

(Halichot Olam, Helek 4, Page 284)

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Beracha Recited Over Falafel, Fruit Roll Ups (Amardin) and Sesame Candies
The Beracha Acharona if Eating Half Measure of Fruit from Outside of Israel and Half Measure from Israel
What Is The Beracha on Vegetable Soup
What is the Beracha for Bread Dipped In Soup
What is the Beracha on a Calzone
What is The Beracha Rishona and Acharona on Bourekas
Reciting Birkat Ha’gomel After Air Travel
The Beracha for Coconut Milk and Fruit Juices
What is The Minimum Quantity of Wine for the Beracha of “Ha’tov V’hametiv?”
The Beracha of “Hatov V’hametiv
If One Remembers That He Forgot to Make a Beracha While Drinking
Does The Beracha HaGefen Cover All Beverages
Does the Beracha of HaMotzih Cover Beverages
Which Beracha Goes First: Boreh Peri Ha’adama or Ha’etz or Shehakol?
Interruptions After Reciting a Beracha of HaGefen
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found