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Showering on Yom Tov: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
'''Heating up water on Yom Tov'''
'''Heating up water on Yom Tov'''
* In the Mishna (Beitzah 2:5), Bet Shamai says that one may only heat up water for washing one’s feet to a temperature that one would be able to drink, while Bet Hillel permits heating up the water even as hot as needed to bathe. Bet Hillel permits based on the concept of Mitoch (since it’s permitted to cook for food on Yom Tov it’s also permitted to heat up water for bathing) (Ran Beitzah 11a). Since we always hold like Bet Hillel (Eiruvin 6b) it should be permitted to heat up water for washing. However, the Gemara Beitzah 21b writes that even Bet Hillel agrees that it’s forbidden to heat up water one’s entire body. There are two major explanations as to why it’s forbidden to heat up water for the rest of the body.  
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* Tosfot (21b D”H Lo Yicham) writes that Bet Hillel only allows heating up water to a high temperature regarding one’s hands and feet because that’s a pleasure enjoyed by everyone, however, for the entire body it’s forbidden (biblically) because it’s not considered something which is a pleasure enjoyed by everyone. (This is similar to Ketubot 7a). However, the Rambam (Yom Tov 1:16) holds that the only prohibition involved is the rabbinic prohibition to bathe in a bathhouse. [This is also the opinion of the Ritva Beitzah 21b D”H Matiten.]
In the Mishna (Beitzah 2:5), Bet Shamai says that one may only heat up water for washing one’s feet to a temperature that one would be able to drink, while Bet Hillel permits heating up the water even as hot as needed to bathe. Bet Hillel permits based on the concept of Mitoch (since it’s permitted to cook for food on Yom Tov it’s also permitted to heat up water for bathing) (Ran Beitzah 11a). Since we always hold like Bet Hillel (Eiruvin 6b) it should be permitted to heat up water for washing. However, the Gemara Beitzah 21b writes that even Bet Hillel agrees that it’s forbidden to heat up water one’s entire body. There are two major explanations as to why it’s forbidden to heat up water for the rest of the body.  
* Shulchan Aruch 511:2 rules like Tosfot that it is forbidden to heat up water on Yom Tov to wash anything more than one’s hands. (It’s evident that Shulchan Aruch holds like Tosfot from Bet Yosef 511:2. So writes Chazon Ovadyah (Yom Tov pg 41).) It’s implied from Biur Halacha 511:2 D”H Yadav that what is considered a pleasure enjoyed by everyone depends on the time and place. (Sh”t Mayim Chaim 1:29 supports this idea.) <ref>"Changes in Sociology or Technology and Jewish Law Responses to Them: The Cases of Showering or Smoking on Yom Tov" is a good RJJ article by Avi Wagner and R’ Broyde on this topic. (R’ broyde states aware of only one posek who says “Shaave” never changes).</ref>
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'''Showering with water heated up before Yom Tov'''
Tosfot (21b D”H Lo Yicham) writes that Bet Hillel only allows heating up water to a high temperature regarding one’s hands and feet because that’s a pleasure enjoyed by everyone, however, for the entire body it’s forbidden (biblically) because it’s not considered something which is a pleasure enjoyed by everyone. (This is similar to Ketubot 7a). However, the Rambam (Yom Tov 1:16) holds that the only prohibition involved is the rabbinic prohibition to bathe in a bathhouse. [This is also the opinion of the Ritva Beitzah 21b D”H Matiten.]
* Tosfot who holds that there is a biblical prohibition to heat up water on Yom Tov holds that there’s a rabbinic prohibition not to bathe in water heated before Yom Tov just like there’s a rabbinic prohibition regarding water heated before Shabbat. However, the Rambam holds that it’s permissible to wash one’s whole body with water that was heated up before Yom Tov as long as it’s done outside a bathhouse because there was a rabbinic prohibition not to bathe in a bathhouse on Yom Tov (Bet Yosef 511:2).  
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* Shulchan Aruch 511:2 rules like the Rambam and the Rama rules like Tosfot. Mishna Brurah 551:19 writes that Ashkenazim shouldn’t change the minhag to forbid washing one’s whole body in water that was heated before Yom Tov. However, the Sephardic minhag is to follow Shulchan Aruch. (Sh”t Mayim Chayim 1:29, Chazon Ovadyah (Yom Tov pg 41)).  
Shulchan Aruch 511:2 rules like Tosfot that it is forbidden to heat up water on Yom Tov to wash anything more than one’s hands. (It’s evident that Shulchan Aruch holds like Tosfot from Bet Yosef 511:2. So writes Chazon Ovadyah (Yom Tov pg 41).) It’s implied from Biur Halacha 511:2 D”H Yadav that what is considered a pleasure enjoyed by everyone depends on the time and place. (Sh”t Mayim Chaim 1:29 supports this idea.) <ref>"Changes in Sociology or Technology and Jewish Law Responses to Them: The Cases of Showering or Smoking on Yom Tov" is a good RJJ article by Avi Wagner and R’ Broyde on this topic. (R’ broyde states aware of only one posek who says “Shaave” never changes).</ref>
<br><br>'''Showering with water heated up before Yom Tov'''
<br><br> Tosfot who holds that there is a biblical prohibition to heat up water on Yom Tov holds that there’s a rabbinic prohibition not to bathe in water heated before Yom Tov just like there’s a rabbinic prohibition regarding water heated before Shabbat. However, the Rambam holds that it’s permissible to wash one’s whole body with water that was heated up before Yom Tov as long as it’s done outside a bathhouse because there was a rabbinic prohibition not to bathe in a bathhouse on Yom Tov (Bet Yosef 511:2).  
<br><br> Shulchan Aruch 511:2 rules like the Rambam and the Rama rules like Tosfot. Mishna Brurah 551:19 writes that Ashkenazim shouldn’t change the minhag to forbid washing one’s whole body in water that was heated before Yom Tov. However, the Sephardic minhag is to follow Shulchan Aruch. (Sh”t Mayim Chayim 1:29, Chazon Ovadyah (Yom Tov pg 41)).