Thursday, September 06, 2007

Kesubos 6a - Squeezing on Shabbos (baby wipes)

Tosafos explains that there are 2 forms of squeezing: 1. Melabein (cleaning) for the purpose of the cloth. 2. Mefareik [tolda of dash] (separating) for the purpose of the liquid i.e. squeezing grapes. R' Moshe (o.c. 2:70) discusses using a wet paper towel (some sort of paper towel but it seems to be less absorbent than bounty) to wipe down a dirty or sticky table. He explains that on paper which is a throw away, melabein would certainly not apply. But, the second form of squeezing which is assur bec. of mefareik would presumabely apply. Although some Rishonim indicate that the second form of squeezing isn't applicable to water, the Shulchan Aruch doesn't seem to make a distinction and would maintain that even by water it applies. Nevertheless, R' Moshe is lenient based on a few tzirufim to be meikel (and most of the reasons should apply to baby wipes as well): 1. One is not interested in the water coming out onto the table and going to waste (this would apply to baby wipes as well because one does not want the water on the babies skin any more than they want the water on the table), so according to the Aruch who allows Psik Reisha d'lo Nicha Lei, it is permitted (but according to the R"I it is assur m'drabonon). 2. The liquid is not absorbed in the paper (i don't think this would at all apply to our paper towels or to baby wipes), but this rationale alone would not remove the issur d'rabonon similar to hair which does not absorb yet is assur. 3. Your intent is not to squeeze and it is not normal to squeeze water out of paper (I am not sure what halachic premise this heter is based on, i assume that r' moshe means to say that it is some sort of shinuy). 4. It may not be a p'sik reisha to make the water come out, unless you hold it very tightly.
I am interested in hearing sevaras for or against, (but not so interested in collecting names of rabbis who rule this or that).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.bknw.org/library/articles/shabbos/Using%20Baby%20Wipes%20on%20Shabbos.pdf
is an article I wrote on using baby wipes on shabbos

http://www.bknw.org/pafiledb/uploads/Brushing%20Teeth%20on%20Shabbos.pdf
is my article on brushing teeth on shabbos - also heavily related to our tosafos

Avi Lebowitz said...

shkoyach aryeh! very thorough articles.