Question:Is it permitted to remove nail varnish 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 to erase ink or a similar substance from one’s hands, and this constitutes an issur of mochek. 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 (in the same place) 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 63) writes, regarding nail varnish removal, that one should not remove nail varnish on Shabbos. However, while discussing one who forgot to remove nail varnish prior to tevila, the Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchoso (Se’if 66) writes that if feasible one should ask a non-Jew to remove the nail varnish, but if this is not feasible, he writes that “there are lenient opinions who allow removing nail varnish on Shabbos”. The Orchos Shabbos (Chelek 1, Perek 15, Se’if 59) permits a lady to remove nail varnish 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 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 (ibid Se’if 10) that one should refrain from removing make up or “body dye” (presumably nail varnish fits into this category). He explains (ibid footnote 15) that removing make-up and similar substances is more severe than removing a stain 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). Summary: Regarding removing nail varnish on Shabbos, it is certainly preferable to avoid removing nail varnish on Shabbos, because according to the Chaye Odom this constitutes mochek. (It appears that the Chaye Odom bases this din on the Rosh who writes that mochek applies not only to erasing letters, but also to erasing a stain of ink or a similar substance.) |
Shabbos
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