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...
Decorating Homes and Synagogues With Flowers on Shabuot
Shabuot – The Special Quality of the Month of Sivan; A Reason for Eating Dairy Products on Shabuot
Giving Charity on Erev Shavuot
Shabuot – Netilat Yadayim, Birkat Ha’Torah and the Bedtime Shema
Shabuot – Shaharit and Musaf on Shabuot Morning
Giving Charity Before Shabuot; Learning on Shabuot Night
Shabuot – Reasons for the Custom to Decorate the Synagogue with Flowers
Shabuot-Preparing When Shavuot Falls Out On Mosaeh Shabbat
Shabuot-Is it Permissible to Donate Blood or Have Elective Surgery on Ereb Shabuot?
Shavuot- Should One Repeat Beracha Rishona for Beverages Throughout The Night While Studying Shavuot Night
Shabuot – The Two Different Versions of the Te’amim for the Ten Commandments
Shabuot – The Halachot of Berachot Over Food and Drinks During Shabuot Night; Reciting Birkat Ha’Torah on Shabuot Morning
If an Israeli Resident is Spending Yom Tob in the Diaspora
Shabuot – The Custom to Remain Awake Throughout the Night
Pesah – How Soon After Pesah May One Eat the Hametz Which He Had Sold?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found