Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Bathing on Yom Kippur

On Yom Kippur it is forbidden to wash even a small part of the body with hot or cold water or other fluid. Most poskim hold that only pleasure bathing is forbidden, but sweat and the like may be rinsed. There are poskim who hold that it is permissible to wash off dirt, but other types of non-pleasure rinsing (including sweat) are forbidden. Someone who is not desperate should be stringent. When washing is permitted only cold water may be used.

( סעיף א וס"ק ב; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 2)

Washing hands for davening or for food

As implied above, the prohibition is against washing for pleasure. Netilas yadaim which removes the ruach ra from the hands is permitted in the morning. Likewise, after using the restroom it is permissible to wash soiled hands. If the hands were not soiled they can be washed in honor of davening. In these instances only the fingers should be washed, not the palms or back of the hand. A kohen before birkas kohanim or infirm person before eating may wash their hands normally.

( סעיף ב-ג וס"ק ג-ו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 17)

Designating a muktza item for use on Shabbos

A muktza item that has been designated for a permissible use may be moved on Shabbos. The designation must be done before the onset of Shabbos. The designation can be done mentally, without verbalization or action. The Rishonim discuss whether the special designation of a muktza item which occasionally functions for a permissible purpose covers just one Shabbos or lasts forever. When necessary, it is permissible to be lenient. If the item was used for its permissible function before Shabbos began, the designation is treated as eternal. According to all Rishonim, items that are not used for the permissible purpose require an eternal designation. If the item was used for the permissible function several times (and according to some poskim twice is adequate), this is treated as an eternal designation.

( שו"ע רנט, א, משנ"ב ב ו־ה, ושעה"צ א; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 2 ו־6; עם הרחבת המקורות )

Meleches machsheves -- planned activities

On Shabbos there is a rule called meleches machsheves – only planned forbidden activities are assur . Permissible activities that might cause a forbidden activity to occur are permitted. Such activities are known as eino miskavein – unplanned. However, if the unplanned activity will inevitably follow the permissible action, it is treated as though the forbidden consequence was also planned. In such a case, the original action is forbidden because of the rule of psik reisha . If the consequence involves a melacha d’oraisa, the original activity is forbidden md’oraisa . If the unplanned action serves no purpose, it is called a psik reisha d’lo niche leh and is forbidden mid’rabonon . It is permissible to ask a goy to perform an action that will lead to a pesik reisha and certainly one that will lead to a psik reisha d’lo niche leh .

( שו"ע רנט, ז, משנ"ב כא, ושעה"צ טז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו רנג, 122; וראה שם עוד )

Opening an oven door

It is assur to open the door of a wood-burning cooking stove on Shabbos if there are glowing embers inside. Opening the door will cause air to rush in and ignite the coals into flames. Closing the door is also forbidden because it will cut off the air supply and lessen the fire. Although in both cases the intention is not to increase or lessen the fire, these actions are assur because of psik reisha . It is likewise forbidden to open the door just a little, because a small opening can sometimes allow a greater rush of air than a large opening. It is forbidden to close the door of a lantern or other utensil with a burning candle inside, because doing so would cut off the air supply and extinguish the candle.

( שו"ע רנט, ז, ומשנ"ב כא )

It is permissible to insulate a pot of Shabbos food in a muktza insulation. This is permissible even though the muktza will inadvertently move when the food is removed, because tiltul min hatzad — inadvertent movement of muktza -- is permitted.

A pot covered with a muktza insulator is not considered a basis (base) for muktza. The pot is not serving the insulation--a condition for the rule of basis—but rather the insulation is for the benefit of the pot.

Items which are designated and used for a specific purpose and which people take pains to prevent from becoming damaged are considered muktza machmas chisoron kis — muktza because of [potential] loss.

Shehiya and fully cooked food

Which raw foods are exempt from the issur of shehiya?

Warming food by placing it near hot pots

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.