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...
Reciting Birkat Kohanim More Than Once a Day; If a Kohen Arrives in the Synagogue at the Time of Birkat Kohanim
Standing While Reading the Torah or When Called for an Aliyah
The Role of the Mesader
The Berachot Before and After an Aliya
Under Which Circumstances May a Sefer Torah be Transported?
Which Direction Should the Hazan Face When Carrying the Sefer Torah To and From the Ark?
The Recitation of “Ve’hu Rahum” at the Beginning of Arbit
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited After Sunset?
Reciting Birkat Kohanim at Minha on Fast Days
Until What Point in the Day Can a Person Make Up a Missed Arbit Prayer?
If One Missed a Musaf Prayer
When is the Last Time for Praying Minha?
Does One Answer to Kaddish Heard Over the Telephone or a Simulcast?
Must One Face Toward Eretz Yisrael When Reciting Kaddish?
If One Forgot Ya’ale Ve’yabo in the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found