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...
How is the Rabbi’s Erub Tabshilin Able to Cover All Members of His Congregation?
Can One Rely on the Rabbi’s Erub Tabshilin?
If a Person Remembers During Minha That He Forgot to Prepare an Erub Tabshilin
Which Preparations for Shabbat Become Allowed Through the Erub Tabshilin?
Which Kind of Cooked Food Items May be Used for the Erub Tabshilin?
Preparing a Baked Food Item and a Boiled Item For Erub Tabshilin
Introduction to Erub Tabshilin
May a Visitor to Israel Perform a Berit Mila on the Second Day of Yom Tob?
Measuring Food Ingredients on Yom Tob
Carrying Keys to the Synagogue for Arbit at the End of Yom Tob
Does One Tear Keri’a at a Family Member’s Funeral on Hol Ha’mo’ed?
Laws Regarding Electric and Fire on Yom Tov
Is it Permissible to Light a Yahrtzeit Candle on Yom Tob?
Using a Tape Recorder on Shabbat and on Hol Ha’mo’ed
Is It Permissible To Take Medicines on Yom Tov That Are Forbidden On Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found