New York – We are, of course, approaching another two day Yom Tov replete with beautiful davening, simcha, Torah learning, dvaikus Bashem, ruchniyus, and of course – that ucky feeling where one feels like he or she is in desperate need of a shower. The notion of showering on Yom Tov remains a very controversial area of halacha. This article will attempt to explain the complex issues involved. We will begin with the general prohibitions and we will continue with the exceptions. It should be noted that this article does not encourage showering on Yom Tov. For those that do it already, however, it should serve as a guide as to how to not violate halachos while doing it.
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THE GENERAL PROHIBITION
The Malacha that is under discussion, of course, is bishul – cooking the water in order to shower or bathe.
We know of course that on Yom Tov many malachos are permitted for the sake of ochel nefesh – universal physical need. Ochel Nefesh is not just limited to food – it may apply to other areas too.
The key issue is the word “universal.” Universal means that it is shaveh lechol nefesh – it must universal to everyone in order to be permitted. The Shulchan Aruch in Orech Chaim 511:2 and the Mishna Brurah 511:10 both write that washing or bathing one’s entire body is not considered a universal need. The fifth volume of the Mishna Brurah was written in pre-1918 Europe. Although a good argument could perhaps be made that nowadays virtually everyone showers daily, the Poskim have not ruled that things have actually changed (See Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchasa chapter 19 footnote 3 in the quote of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal). So the halacha remains that one may not shower or bathe one’s entire body on Yom Tov.
FURTHER RABBINIC PROHIBITION AND CUSTOM
According to the Ramah (OC 518:2), the prohibition of bathing or showering the entire body was extended by Chazal to include water that was cooked even from before Yom Tov. There is another issue as well. Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal informs us (Igros Moshe OC Vol. IV #75) that the minhag in Klal Yisroel is not to shower or bathe even in cold water on Yom Tov. [It should be noted, however, that Rav Naftoli Hertzka Hoenig zt”l, one of the only musmachim of the Arugas HaBosem contemplates in his Seifer Tiferes Naftoli, that perhaps a cold shower is permitted on Yom Tov].
We see, therefore, that there are underlying issues: A] The Torah prohibition of cooking for a non-universal need B] The Rabbinic extension of using water that was heated even from before Yom Tov and C] the custom in Klal Yisroel not to bathe the entire body – even in cold water.
THE EXCEPTIONS
Exception #1 – Mitztaer
The first exception we shall discuss is one known as Mitztaer – someone who is suffering discomfort. If a person is excessively itchy or perspiring heavily, Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal (ibid) rules that that person may shower in cold water. Indeed, the first Biur Halacha in OC 326 even rules that the person who is suffering may bathe or shower in water that was heated from before Yom Tov. Thus we see that Mitztaer works to remove prohibitions “B” and “C” discussed above. This heter or exception is not sufficient to remove prohibition “A.”
Exception #2 – Face, Hands & Feet
The Mishna Brurah writes (in the Biur Halacha to 511:1) that washing one’s face hands and feet is considered a universal need and therefore water may even be cooked on Yom Tov to meet this need. Therefore, this exception works even for prohibition “A” and certainly for prohibitions “B” and “C” discussed above. So it would be permitted to heat up water – even on Yom Tov for this purpose. One may turn on the hot water for exception #2.
The one condition to this exception is that it cannot be done in a place or manner where it might lead to washing the entire body. So either do not do it in the shower or bathtub or if you do use the shower or bathtub – wear some clothes while you do it so that you won’t come to wash your entire body.
Exception #3- 49% of the Body (Controversial)
Some Poskim write that the “Face, Hands, Feet” exception is not limited to just these three limbs and extremities but actually applies to other minor parts of the body too – as long as the majority of the body is not washed. The Poskim that rule in this manner are the Rashba and the Rosh (cited in the Biur Halacha). The GRaZ (in 518:1) is also lenient. The Mishna Brurah, however, seems to limit this exception to the face, hands, and feet discussed above.
The condition discussed above applies also to this exception: It cannot be done in a place or manner where it might lead to washing the entire body. So either do not do it in the shower or bathtub or if you do use the shower or bathtub – wear some clothes while you do it so that you won’t come to wash your entire body.
Exception #4 – One Limb at a Time
The Shulchan Aruch permits a person to wash one limb at a time even with water that was heated before Yom Tov. One may not use water that was heated on Yom Tov itself for this purpose, however. Only prohibitions “B” and “C” are permitted for this – not prohibition “A.” Again the condition mentioned above still applies: It cannot be done in a place or manner where it might lead to washing the entire body. So either do not do it in the shower or bathtub or if you do use the shower or bathtub – wear some clothes while you do it so that you won’t come to wash your entire body.
Exception #5- Non Yad Soledes Bo Water
Another exception of course is if the hot water you are using is not heated above the temperature of Yad Soledes Bo (113 degrees Fahrenheit according to Rav SHlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal). There are some companies that specialize in providing boilers with a setting that the water is never actually heated to Yad Soledes Bo.
Of course, since prohibition C still applies all over one should only use exception #5 with the condition mentioned above – that it cannot be done in a place or manner where it might lead to washing the entire body. So either do not do it in the shower or bathtub or if you do use the shower or bathtub – wear some clothes while you do it so that you won’t come to wash your entire body.
OTHER ISSUES
Of course when showering one must be careful not to violate the prohibition of Sechita – wring out absorbed water from a washcloth or drying the head with a towel and applying pressure. Soap may also not be used because of the issue of memarayach (See Mishna Brurah 326:30). Liquid soaps and shampoos would be permitted, however.
Based upon the above exceptions the following two methods would not be in violation of halacha per se:
Method A] Combining Exceptions #1 and #2 – If someone was wearing underclothing in the shower, and one is Mitzta-er, then one may wash his hands, feet and face with warm water. Once the warm water is on – then one may add cold water to it so that the water is not freezing cold. Again, this method would only be permitted for someone who is truly Mitzta-er.
Method B] Combining Exceptions #4 and #2 – If someone was wearing underclothing in the shower, then one may wash his hands, feet, and face with warm water. Once the warm water is on – then one may add cold water to it so that the water is not freezing cold. Then one may wash one limb at a time. He or she must then stop. Dry off. Exit. Enter again and wash the next limb. This may be done even if one is not Mitzta-er.
These are the exceptions to the general prohibition of bathing and showering on Yom Tov in a nutshell. There are other exceptions when it comes to bathing or showering a child – especially one who became soiled. It is important, however, never to allow the use of these exceptions to allow us to take Yom Tov lightly. The purpose of these exceptions is to enhance our Yom Tov so that we can become ever closer to HaKadosh Boruch Hu.
use the sanitary gel…i love it
I’m vary happy that you wrote today a halocha what my r’ naftula hirtzka hanig ztz”l known as the sharmasher ruv who was a big tzadick in a big goan and big masmid and today is his yoartzyt
For the people who do not shower daily then they should not shower on yom tov. For those who do shower …
You have misquoted R. Moshe zt’l’s teshuva #75 . He never says that the minhag in Klal Yisroel is not to take cold showers. He says that in America, Yidden have been nohaig not to take cold showers – but that there is no source for it. The clear import is that cold showers are permitted.
Is sanitary gel (showering without water) kosher n pesach?
You all mock the Chasidim who go in Mikvah shabbos saying we are violating the issur of Schita, yet you find showers to be OK.
This is too complicated, I will skip the shower, never mined.
How about this idea, take a dirty spoon in your mouth, and enter the shower to wash the spoon, and…….. The rest I leave it for you
Thank you for posting these halachos briefings. I find them immensely useful.
In Chevron on Rosh Hashana, the Israelis who were NEVER used to 2 (or 3 days as it was two years ago) all took showers under the guidennce of R’ Moshe Mordechai Farbstien
Let me also say it was certain hours only that we were allowed due to the boiler systems there
Rabbi Yair, you’re walking between the raindrops. Bottom line, to sum this up:taking a normal full body shower, either hot or cold water, , no underwear, in a bathtub or shower, is ASUR=PROHIBATED
Rav Abadi holds you can shower on yom tov, no exceptions needded.
thank u so much for writing this article. now i no how to shower without breaking the laws
In regards to young children, I asked R’ Dovid Cohen who told me that they can be bathed in the normal way until age 5.
Funny how rabbi’s still consider smoking “shoveh l’chol nefesh” when less than 20% of the population smokes, while showering isn’t. In my opinion its emblematic of a mind set which is frozen somewhere in the 1930’s. Also explains the infatuation with black fedora’s.
I don'[t get why they permit smoking under something hadovor shaveh lechol nefesh but showering on yom tov can’t get that status? Doesn’t practically everyone shower daily nowadays?
The key issue is the word “universal.” Universal means that it is shaveh lechol nefesh – it must universal to everyone in order to be permitted.
I live in NYC surrounded by 8 million others, trust me, the need to shower daily is universal.
The fedoras is a different matter. Before American culture began seriously degenerating, normal respectable gentile men would wear a fedora. So that is the American normal way of dressing respectably. Look up old pictures; everyone is wearing hats.
Although, in today’s society, anything goes, that doesn’t make it respectable to dress that way, but rather it is still proper to dress respectably. So it’s not an “infatuation with black fedoras”, but striving to dress like a respectable human being.
As for smoking, it’s likely already assur for 99.9% of the population, so I don’t see why Yom Tov can be mattir an existing issur.
turn on your A/C for yom tov. You wont shvitz
To #19 . You bring up an extremely good question with that example.
It would seem to me that if you live in an apartment building where the boiler doesn’t go off, and there are non-Jews who use the hot water as well, it would be permitted to use the hot water to take a rinse on parts of your body – since there is no way of seeing that you directly caused water to be cooked rather than a non-Jewish tenant who also uses the water, especially since using the shower (unlike cigarettes) is a davar hasheveh lechol nefesh. Any insights on this?
most of these answers are pretty funny.
thanks for giving me a few stress free moments as i took a much needed break from yom tov preparations.
you guys are a riot
In Israel, the Halacha with respect to heating the water is different, since the water is generally heated by a “Dud Shemesh”. While there is a Machlokes if this is considered “Chama” (mutar) or “Toldos Chama” (assur mi’d’rabanan), the issur d’oreisa of Bishul is avoided.
Washing one’s face, hands, and feet in the times of the shulshan aruch is the modern day equivalent of a shower. Just because something wasn’t invented in those times does not make it assur to use in our times. Therefore, if it allowed for one to heat up water to wash their hands, face and feet, it should certainly be allowed to shower today. For halacha and yidishkeit to survive, it must be an evolving force that keeps its core values although adapts with time.
R. Michael Broyde Shlita wrote a long article in which he articulates the hetter for showering on yom tov. There are other poskim who agree with this. How can smoking be shaveh lechol nefesh and showering not?
Not showering is associated with aveilos. There is no doubt that in western counties today showering every day is universal and davar hashave lichol nefesh. Smoking on the other hand – which kills you and is only done by 20% of population – Should be asur on yom tov. Is it possible (and i am not being nasty – just trying to clarify facts) that we are talking about certain chareidi population segments where showering every day is not universal and where smoking is more than 60% of population. Then they would not be allowed to shower (why they are allowed to bathe in the mikva but not shower is beyond me) on yom tov and be allowed to smoke ? Yom Tov does not mean stinking in misery for three days.
Is it permitted to bathe (not swim) in the sea on Shabbos and/or Yom Tov?
Rabbi Hoffman,
If f you have a non-tank hot water boiler, which basically starts heating the water when you turn on the faucet, does that change anything? And what about washing one’s hands in such a case?
Reb Chezkel says Shower
Firstly one must ascertain that the shower is not electrically powered – many have a pump to increase the force of the water. Secondly for those who worry about the responsa of R Moishe that the custom in the US or anywhere is or isn’t to shower or otherwise wash: the source is a Maharil who says that even in cold water is forbidden by minhag.
so at the end the day there is a heter to shower normaly with body wash?
Go into shower with underclothing on? Shriyaso zeh hu kivuso!!! Doesnt sound right to me.