Showering on Yom Tov Rabbanit Debbie Zimmerman

Showering on yom tov is not without its halakhic issues. It is important to properly groom and bathe oneself before Shabbat and yom tov, and not to wait until it starts. But when yom tov is two days and/or adjacent to Shabbat, going without a shower over two or three days can present a hygiene problem, or impinge on one’s ability to fulfill their obligations to honor (kavod) these days and properly rejoice (simcha) in the festival or enjoy (oneg) Shabbat.^[1] So let’s address the various issues that may come up, and how to solve them.

The difference between melakha (creative work) on Shabbat and yom tov

One of the ways a yom tov (festival) differs from Shabbat is that certain melakhot (types of creative work) that are prohibited on Shabbat are permitted on yom tov if they are l’tzorekh okhel nefesh – necessary to feed people on yom tov.

Not all melakhot involved in food preparation are permitted. For example, one may not pick fruit off a tree to eat on yom tov. The limited list of melakhot that are permitted l’tzorekh okhel nefesh, such as cooking, may also be permitted for other purposes as well. For example – since (mitokh) it’s permissible to burn wood from an existing fire to cook, it’s also permissible to do so to warm oneself.^[2]

However, this too is limited. These melakhot are only permitted if they are for a purpose that is shav’eh l’kol nefesh, equal for all people.^[3] If the melakha is only done for rich people or the self-indulgent, it remains prohibited, as it is not deemed “necessary.”^[4] As we will see, halakhic authorities have applied this limitation to both heating water for bathing and how much of the body may be washed on yom tov.

Hot water

You mentioned you can use water from your boiler on Shabbat. Let’s go over the basics anyway. When this teshuva refers to using hot water, it refers to hot water that was heated before yom tov or heated in a permissible way on yom tov. Igniting a fire and turning on electricity are prohibited on both Shabbat and yom tov. But there are times and ways it is permissible to heat or cook cold water on yom tov.

What about using the hot water tap? Although not every type of hot water heater is permitted, there are more permissible ways to heat water on yom tov than on Shabbat.

For example, while there is some dispute about using water heated by solar heaters on Shabbat, there is even more reason to permit their use on yom tov.^[5] Additionally, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, of the Star-K, permits using water from heaters that have a pilot light, and even electric heaters if they have tanks, as long as using hot water doesn’t immediately ignite a ventilation system.^[6] In cases of doubt, one should check the type of heater they have and inquire further if necessary.

Washing the whole body

Even if the water is heated in a permissible manner, is it permissible to heat water for a shower on yom tov? Since many teshuvot address this question, we will just summarize the basics.

The mishna allows heating hot water on yom tov (in a permissible manner) for washing one’s face, hands, and feet. Why isn’t heating water to wash one’s whole body permitted?^[7] Rishonim raise two possibilities. One is based on the principle we noted above, that a melakha is only permitted on yom tov if it is shav’eh l’kol nefesh, equal for all people. Tosafot explain that since most people did not bathe their whole bodies in hot water on a regular basis, it is prohibited.^[8] Rambam and Rif rule that the prohibition is a rabbinic decree related to the rabbinic prohibition against washing the whole body on Shabbat in water that was heated beforehand.^[9]

Based on these opinions, Shulchan Arukh and Rema rule that one may heat water on yom tov to wash their face, hands, and feet, but not their whole body, in accordance with Beit Hillel’s opinion in the gemara.^[10] They do not permit heating water to bathe the whole body on yom tov. In accordance with Rambam, Shulchan Arukh permits using water that was heated before yom tov to bathe the whole body on yom tov. It should be noted that there are permissions to bathe babies and children.

Rav Ovadia Yosef and Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurebach both compare water heated by a solar water heater to water heated before yom tov.^[11] The logic seems to hold for all hot water that was heated on its own (as opposed to actively) and in a permissible manner.^[12] But those who follow Rema, like many Ashkenazim, may still have a problem with bathing the whole body.

Some modern halakhic authorities permit heating water to shower due to a combination of factors. Today, heating water for bathing and showering is shaveh l’kol nefesh. Furthermore, the decree against bathing in hot water is said to only apply to bathhouses, and not private homes. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu permitted hot showers, although not baths.^[13] Some are still concerned with the rabbinic decree against hot baths and have an added stringency to take a lukewarm shower instead of a hot one.

Squeezing out liquids – dash, mefarek, and melaben on yom tov

The melakha of dash prohibits separating produce (anything grown from the earth) from its encasement, such as threshing to remove the seeds from their husks.^[14] A subcategory of the prohibition is mefarek, separating, and this specifically includes squeezing liquids such as juice from a fruit.^[15]

Squeezing a sponge or cloth to use the liquid absorbed is also a problem, as Ran cites Rabbeinu Tam who rules this is a subcategory of melaben, laundering.^[16]  Rosh rules that wringing cloth to extract the water is a Torah-level prohibition.^[17] Consequently, we are careful not to wet absorbent cloth for cleaning, since if we want the liquid it’s likely we will come to squeeze it. Therefore, one should not use a washcloth to wash their body, but a non-absorbent “poof” or the like is permitted. This is permitted if one does not want the liquid, such as using a towel to dry oneself or clean a mess.

Squeezing water from hair also presents problems, which is why many advise not washing one’s hair on yom tov.^[18] But in cases where one is uncomfortable, they may wet and wash their hair if they are careful not to squeeze it out. After the shower one may pat or loosely wrap their hair in a towel or cloth so the water is directly absorbed.^[19] One may also dry their body with a towel.^[20]

Soap, shampoo, conditioner, and hair

Those who do not use bar soap on Shabbat should also refrain from using it on yom tov.^[21] Shampoo and conditioner are generally liquid enough to be permitted on yom tov. Halakhkic authorities raise the possibility that using hair products such as oils to “build” volume or a hairstyle is prohibited.^[22] So while hair oils and items of similar consistency can be used to tame hair, using them to style hair in a lasting way is problematic. There is room to permit if the hold is not tight, as this is not “building” that will last.

Since it’s prohibited to remove hair from a body on Shabbat and yom tov, Shulchan Arukh prohibits brushing hair, even with a soft brush, based on the assumption that it will certainly remove hairs.^[23] In our times this assumption may not be universally true, and people are less likely to pull out hair when they bathe and wash their hair regularly.

Nevertheless, brushing or combing hair may still be a problem. The Talmud in Nazir teaches that people brush their hair to pull out hairs with weak roots, so they don’t look unkempt. ^[24] Magen Avraham cites Rivash who explains that the issue is only if one intends to do so or the brush or comb will certainly tear out hair, and allows using a soft brush on small amounts of hair when this is not the case.^[25] Mishna Berura disagrees and rules that even if this is not the express purpose, someone who is pleased with this result may not use a brush or a comb that is likely to pull out hairs.^[26]

According to Mishna Berura, one may brush or comb their hair if one does not want to pull out hairs that are still attached at the root and is unlikely to do so using this method. He explains that this is the reason Rema permits using one’s hand to rub (clean or shampoo) and comb one’s hair. Nowadays, when hair is less likely to be matted and knotted and there are more types of combs and brushes to choose from, it seems that using a brush or comb that is unlikely to pull out their hair is permitted if they don’t want to pull out their hair. Some halakhic authorities recommend designating a brush that does not pull-out hairs for Shabbat and yom tov.^[27]

Preparing for the next day

Preparing from one day of yom tov to the next, from yom tov to Shabbat or vise versa is prohibited. As we have seen, bathing on yom tov poses less halakhic problems than bathing on Shabbat, and it’s preferable to do so. Bathing in preparation of Shabbat can be a problem, as it may not be covered by an eruv tavshilin. Therefore, it’s preferable to shower with enough time to enjoy one’s cleanliness on yom tov itself, and not immediately before Shabbat.