KollelBoker: What type of soap is permitted on Shabbos?

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Vol. 1 Iss. 28

פרשת במדבר

Dvar Torah

By: Rabbi Goldman

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos tells us "Spend less time taking care of our general needs and learn more Torah". It is clear from this mishna that it is very important to recognize what our general needs are and that we must take care of them. Despite the importance of Torah, we must spend time being involved in other matters. However the mishna tells us that we must try to minimize our involvement with our general needs as much as we can in order to learn as much as possible.
Finding the correct balance is very difficult.

The Medrash tells us that David Hamelech said about himself that he was constantly faced with this challenge of trying to determine how to spend his time (when to be learning and when to be involved with his other responsibilities). It was only due to his incredible desire and recognition of the importance of learning that he was able to make the correct decisions. If we are able to recognize the importance of learning we too will make the correct decisions. The Mishna is telling us to recognize the importance of Torah and thereby prioritize enough time to our Torah learning.

Dvar Halacha

By: R' Chananya Berman

Question: What type of soap is one permitted to use on Shabbos?

Discussion: One of the Av Melachos on Shabbos is Scraping (ממחק). A toldah of this is smoothing (ממרח). We will first discuss how this applies to soap and then we will give other examples of items where this melacha is involved. One is not permitted to use a bar of soap because he is smoothing out the bar as he lathers up his hands with it. This was especially true in earlier times when the bars of soap were not necessarily as smooth as we have today. However, many poskim agree that one is still not permitted to use a bar of soap on Shabbos (Iggros Moshe Vol. 1 Ch. 113).

Liquid soap, according to may poskim, may be used on Shabbos. However, Rav Moshe zt"l held that there is a question about using liquid soap. He concludes the teshuva by saying "that in my house I am machmir, and that is what one should do". If one mixes the soap with water before Shabbos then everyone would agree that one may use it on Shabbos (The Shabbos Home page 381). If one did not mix the soap before Shabbos one should ask a rav if it is permitted to mix it on Shabbos.

Summary

One may use liquid soap on Shabbos according to most poskim. If one wants to avoid all doubts he should mix it with water before Shabbos as this would be acceptable to all poskim. A bar of soap should not be used on Shabbos at all.

For all practical questions please ask your Rav.