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Brushing Teeth on Shabbat: Difference between revisions
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===Mimareach=== | ===Mimareach=== | ||
The Mishnah in [[Shabbat]] (73a) lists [[Memachaik]] (lit: scraping) as one of the avot melacha, scraping a surface to leave a smooth remainder (e.g. sandpaper, scraping hairs off a hide of leather) | The Mishnah in [[Shabbat]] (73a) lists [[Memachaik]] (lit: scraping) as one of the avot melacha, scraping a surface to leave a smooth remainder (e.g. sandpaper, scraping hairs off a hide of leather). The gemara also discusses a toldah (derivative) of mamaechaik known as Mimareach (lit: [[smoothing]]), which is accomplished not by scraping down a surface, but rather by spreading a malleable substance (e.g. wax) over a surface.<ref> Rambam Hilchot [[Shabbat]] 11:5,6 </ref> | ||
Mimareach | |||
*Rav Moshe Feinstein <ref> Sh"t Iggerot Moshe Orach Chaim, 1:112 </ref> says that it’s definitely forbidden to use toothpaste because of mimachek, but without toothpaste it is allowed just like washing the rest of your body. Seemingly, Rav Moshe meant mimareach the toladah of mimachek. It is also possible that he meant mimachek in that you’re [[smoothing]] out your teeth by removing the plaque. Rav Soloveitchik<ref> Nefesh Harav p. 168 </ref> said removing dirt or plaque is certainly not mimachek just like washing dishes is permissible.<ref>Gemara [[Shabbat]] 50a</ref> Mimachek is only when you’re removing something that is part of the essence of the object itself and plaque isn’t that. So they asked him maybe you remove enamel by brushing and he said that if that were true eventually you would have no tooth left from brushing. | *Rav Moshe Feinstein <ref> Sh"t Iggerot Moshe Orach Chaim, 1:112 </ref> says that it’s definitely forbidden to use toothpaste because of mimachek, but without toothpaste it is allowed just like washing the rest of your body. Seemingly, Rav Moshe meant mimareach the toladah of mimachek. It is also possible that he meant mimachek in that you’re [[smoothing]] out your teeth by removing the plaque. Rav Soloveitchik<ref> Nefesh Harav p. 168 </ref> said removing dirt or plaque is certainly not mimachek just like washing dishes is permissible.<ref>Gemara [[Shabbat]] 50a</ref> Mimachek is only when you’re removing something that is part of the essence of the object itself and plaque isn’t that. So they asked him maybe you remove enamel by brushing and he said that if that were true eventually you would have no tooth left from brushing. | ||
*Rav Ovadia Yosef says even paste is allowed.<ref> Sh"t Yabia Omer 4:30. </ref> This is based on the Magen Avraham (316:24) that says your allowed to smear spit on the ground, since if what your smearing gets totally absorbed, therefore its not a problem of mimareach. Similarly, toothpaste doesn’t stay there for a long time. His second proof is that the Rama (Orach Chaim 326:10) doesn’t say that the problem with using a hard soap is mimareach but instead says [[molid]], because the soap only remains there temporarily. | *Rav Ovadia Yosef says even paste is allowed.<ref> Sh"t Yabia Omer 4:30. </ref> This is based on the Magen Avraham (316:24) that says your allowed to smear spit on the ground, since if what your smearing gets totally absorbed, therefore its not a problem of mimareach. Similarly, toothpaste doesn’t stay there for a long time. His second proof is that the Rama (Orach Chaim 326:10) doesn’t say that the problem with using a hard soap is mimareach but instead says [[molid]], because the soap only remains there temporarily. | ||
