The Shabbos Weekly
Halachos Series on Hilchos Shabbos

Published by

A Project of
The Shema Yisrael Torah Network

Rabbi Dovid
Ostroff, shlita
developed from the Chabura of the
Pirchei Shoshanim Shulchan Aruch Project

These Halachos were shown by Rabbi Ostroff to
HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, shlita

Is one permitted to wet a clean garment?

The gemora in Zevachim 94b says that soaking a garment in water is akin to laundering, and therefore forbidden. We find a dispute amongst the Rishonim as to whether the gemora is referring to a soiled garment or even to a clean one.

We do not have a clear picture as to how the Mechaber rules, because in simon 302:9 he writes that one may not soak a soiled garment, and in simon 334:24 he writes that there is a problem to soak even a clean cloth in water.

Rav Bentzion Abba Shaul Ztz”l ¹ learns that the Mechaber holds that soaking only applies to a soiled garment, but says to be stringent and not to soak even a clean garment.

The Rama ² brings both opinions, and the Mishna Berura ³ says that since soaking a garment involves a Torah prohibition, one should be stringent and not wet even a clean garment.

Therefore the halacha is that one may not wet a clean garment with water.

Would it be permitted to make a compress on Shabbos?

A cold compress is often used for the treatment of people with severe headaches. It is made by soaking a towel in water, squeezing it out and placing it on the forehead. The squeezing is definitely forbidden. The question refers to the actual wetting of the cloth or towel. One method would be to wet ones hands and dry them on a cloth. This is permissible, as we will soon see in the next answer.

Rav Bentzion Abba Shaul Ztz”l says that for a sick person it is permitted to soak a clean towel to make a compress. Since this involves a serious offence a Rav should be consulted. ⁴ The optimal advice would be to have a non-Jew make the compress. ⁵

How come I am allowed to dry my hands on a towel on Shabbos? Am I not wetting the towel?

This is based on another concept called “derch lichluch”, which means that the water is applied in a dirtying manner. When drying hands on a towel, the towel does not become cleaner; on the contrary, it gets dirty. So even though water is coming in contact with the towel, since it is not cleaning the towel, it is permitted. The same rule applies to wiping up spilled water on the floor: even though the water is being absorbed into the towel, since it is done in a “dirtying manner”, it is permitted. ⁶

Drying wet dishes with a towel also follows this rule.

If a garment catches fire, may water be poured onto the section that has not yet caught on fire?

Of course we are not referring to life threatening cases where anything must be done to save lives. We are referring to a case where one has the time and the cool to concentrate on what he is doing. The Mechaber says that if a garment or cloth caught on fire, one is permitted to pour liquid onto the other side of the garment, thereby causing the fire to extinguish when it reaches the liquid.

All liquids, except for water and white wine, soil the garment, and therefore may be poured onto the garment. As for water, it will depend on the opinions mentioned above if one may pour water onto a clean garment. The Bi’ur Halacha ⁷ says that one should be stringent.

If a girl’s platts came undone on shabbos, may they be platted again?

Rav Sternbuch Shlita explains that just as Adam was as far from stolen property as could be, because everything was his. So too when we bring a sacrifice, it must be in such a way that the sacrifice is not tainted in even the smallest way with something not honest.