Question:Is it permitted to remove make up on Shabbos? Discussion: The Chaye Odom in Hilchos Netilas Yodayim (Klal 40 Se’if 8) writes that if a person’s hands are blackened from a pot it is permitted to wash his hands on Shabbos, but it is forbidden for him to dry his hands because of mochek. In Nishmas Odom (ibid 2) he explains that just as a person who writes on his skin on Shabbos has transgressed a melocho of kosev (provided that the substance that he wrote with is permanent) so too it is forbidden because of mochek to erase ink or a similar substance from one’s hands. It appears that the Chaye Odom bases this din on the Rosh (Shabbos Perek Klal Godol) who writes that mochek applies not only to erasing letters, but also to erasing a stain of ink or a similar substance. Regarding whether this is forbidden min hatorah or midrabonon the Chaye Odom (ibid) writes that if one erases an ink stain with intention to write two letters this is classified mochek al m’nas lichtov and is forbidden min hatorah; whereas if one erases with no intention to write in the place of the erasure, this is forbidden midrabonon. The Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchoso (Perek 14 Se’if 29) writes that if one’s hands are soiled it is permitted to wipe them on a dry rag or a paper towel specifically, which are items that do not concern a person if they become soiled (and therefore there is no concern that one will launder them on Shabbos). And in footnote 83 he writes, quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, that the minhag is not to be choshesh for the opinion of the Chaye Odom. The Orchos Shabbos (Chelek 1, Perek 15, Se’if 59) similarly permits a lady to remove make up on Shabbos. And he explains (footnote 85) that specifically with meleches kosev we find an “opposite” melocho of mochek, whereas with tzove’a there is no “opposite” melocho to prohibit removing a dye on Shabbos. He too writes (ibid) that the minhag is not to be choshesh for the opinion of the Chaye Odom. Rav Moshe Mordechai Karp (Hilchos Shabbos b’Shabbos Chelek 3 Perek 58) writes (Se’if 9) that if a person’s hands are soiled with ink, dye or shoe polish, the minhag is to be lenient and permit washing the hands, provided that one merely rinses his hands but does not rub his hands together. However, Rav Moshe Mordechai Karp writes (Se’if 10) that one should refrain from removing make up. He explains (footnote 15) that removing make up is more severe than removing other substances because the make up was applied intentionally, and the area [i.e. the skin] is an area that is designated for the application of make-up (therefore removing make-up could be termed mochek al m’nas lichtov). The only concession that Rav Moshe Mordechai Karp makes regarding make-up removal is that a lady who is wearing make-up is allowed to wash her face, if she is not intending to remove the make up and it is not inevitable that the washing will remove make up. |
Shabbos
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