DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1018 KB)
In the Event One Does Not Have Pre-Cut Tissues in the Restroom on Shabbat

The Shulhan Aruch in Siman 312 dedicates ten Halachot to a situation in which one uses the bathroom out in a field on Shabbat and needs to clean himself. While this is not common today, it was very relevant in those days in which people did not have private bathrooms. In those days, it was the practice to use certain rocks which were suitable to wipe themselves clean. These Halachot deal with the problem that a rock is Mukse. Ultimately the Hachamim waived the issue of Mukse in the face of the need for hygiene because of the importance of Kavod HaBriyot-human dignity.

The practical application of this issue today, although not related to Mukse, is what to do if one does not have cut toilet paper in the bathroom. All the Poskim are clear that one must ensure that he has pre-cut paper before Shabbat. The question arises what to do in a case where one does not have pre-cut paper on Shabbat. Hacham Bension (Or LeSion II, 40:6) does not allow tearing the paper, even with a Shinui-in an unusual fashion, which is only prohibited M'Drabanan (rabbinically). Although the Hachamim waived the Rabbinic prohibition of Mukse in the face of Kavod HaBriyot, tearing with a Shinui is more severe, since it is rooted in the Torah prohibition of "Mehatech"-the Melacha of cutting.

Hacham Ovadia (Yabia Omer OV 9:108:185) argues with Hacham Bension and says that this is not a case of "Mehatech", because that is only when a person is interested in cutting the paper to a certain size to achieve a certain finish. In this case, one does not care about the size of the paper; the perforations are only there to make it easier to cut. Therefore, if person finds himself in a situation without pre-cut paper, he may tear the paper normally, even without a Shinui. The Yalkut Yosef and the Menuhat Ahaba, do recommend that one cut the paper with a Shinui, such as with his mouth or foot.

SUMMARY
One should prepare pre-cut tissues before Shabbat. In the even that one did not do so, it is permitted to cut the paper with a Shinui.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Yom Tob – Using Electrical Appliances; Asking a Gentile to Turn on an Appliance; Riding Elevators
Reciting Birkat Ha’ilanot as Early as Possible in the Month of Nissan
Pesah – Halachot of the Afikoman; Reciting Hallel Before Hasot
Pesah – Mosi Masa
Pesah – Drinking After the Afikoman; The Third and Fourth Cups of Wine
Pesah – Refraining From Roasted Meat on the Night of the Seder
Pesah – What Should One Eat For Marror?
Pesah – The Proper Text for “Min Ha’zebahim U’min Ha’pesahim”
Passover- Halachot of Maggid at the Seder
How to Do Heseba at the Seder
Pesah – Heseba (Leaning) Nowadays
Pesah – Within How Much Time Must One Drink Each of the Four Cups of Wine?
Passover – Eating at the Siyum on Ereb Pesah; Car Repairs During Hol Ha’m’o’ed
Passover – The Spiritual Lights That Come Down at the Seder
Passover – Halachot of Birkat Ha’mazon at the Seder
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found