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...
Should One Pray Minha Ketana Without a Minyan Instead of Minha Gedola with a Minyan?
Halachot Concerning the "Mesader" Who Calls Congregants to the Torah
Is A Person Required To Stand During Chazara (Repetition of the Amidah)
Is One Required to Miss Work to Pray with a Minyan?
“Barechenu” and “Barech Alenu” Between 7 Marheshvan and the Beginning of December for Travelers to and From Israel
“Mesuve Ve’Ose” – The Unique Challenge of Accepting Obligation
One Who Realizes During the Amida That He is Facing the Wrong Direction; Facing Northeast or Southeast During the Amida
Does a Kohen Who Serves as Hazzan Recite Birkat Kohanim?
Facing the Kohanim During Birkat Kohanim
How Many Kaddishim are Recited When Three Sifreh Torah are Read in the Synagogue?
The Tefilah of ‘Hodu’ Before Baruch SheAmar
Arranging the Torah Scrolls on the Teba When Two or More Scrolls are Read
Idle Chatter During Pesukeh De’zimra
How To Make Up Missed Shacharit and Musaf in Minha of Shabbat
Reciting the Amidah With the Chazan When One Comes Late to the Synagogue; Other Situations Where One Recites Kedusha During the Silent Amidah
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found