Washing the Body, taken from Halachically Speaking
http://www.thehalacha.com/attach/Volume3/Issue18.pdf
8
The Shulchan Aruch rules that one may not heat up water on Yom Tov in order to wash his entire body, since
doing so is considered shoveh lechol nefesh. Since washing the whole body is not shoveh lechol nefesh, one Washing part of the body
One may use water which was heated up before Yom Tov to wash one limb at a time, even if he will end up
washing all of his body.11 Additionally, some poskim permit one to use water which was heated up on Yom Tov
to wash one limb at a time, as long as one does not end up washing most of the body, since washing most of the
body will be considered as if one washed the whole body (which is not shoveh lechol nefesh).12 However, if the
water was heated from before Yom Tov, we do not consider washing most of the body as washing the whole
body.
Does Shoveh Lechol Nefesh Change?
The poskim discuss whether or not shoveh lechol nefesh can change with time.13 In earlier times when houses
did not have indoor plumbing, people generally did not shower on a daily basis. Therefore, washing the whole
body was not considered shoveh lechol nefesh. The question is since most people today wash their whole bodies
(i.e. take a shower on a daily basis) is doing so considered to be shoveh lechol nefesh,14 or are the rules set
despite all this the gezeirah of chazal is still in effect and unchanged.15
Face, Hands, and Feet
As mentioned above, one is permitted to heat up water even on Yom Tov to wash his face, hands, and feet. Some
say one may only wash the face and not the entire head.16 When washing the hands, one may wash until the
elbow, and when washing the feet, one may wash until the ankle.17
One may not walk into a shower (even if he only intends to wash part of his body) since we are concerned that
he will come to wash his entire body.18 Therefore, if the limbs of the body which he is not allowed to wash are
covered with a garment, one may walk into a shower to wash the uncovered limbs.19 Alternatively, one may
stand outside the shower and stick his face, hands, and feet into the shower to be washed.
There is an uncertainty if a person who is very dirty may shower his entire body on Yom Tov.20
Modern Water Heaters (Boilers) on Yom Tov
Our modern water heaters work in the following manner.21 Water is heated up to a certain temperature at which
it is maintained automatically. When one uses hot water, new cold water enters the boiler causing the hot water
in the tank to cool that is detected by the thermostat, which then causes the flame to re-heat the water.
Accordingly, anytime one removes hot water on Yom Tov one causes new water to be heated up in its place.
Therefore, all hot water in our modern day boilers is considered to have been cooked on Yom Tov, since one
uses water on Yom Tov new water is getting cooked up in its place.22 Therefore, one would not be able to use
any water from a modern water heater to shower or wash most of the body on Yom Tov.
it is forbidden to cook up hot water for a shower on Yom Tov is because it is not shoveh lechol nefesh since only
an istinus needs one everyday. How then can such reasoning be used to permit a shower? This argument will
refute such statements even during a three-day Yom Tov.24
Children
Giving a child a bath or shower is only permitted where the water has been heated on Yom Tov for a permitted
purpose. One is then permitted to use such water to wash his child.25 However, placing the child into a bath or
shower with water that is heated up on Yom Tov specifically for the child is forbidden.26 One should consult his
local halachic authority whether water taken from a modern-day water heater is considered as having been
heated specifically for the child.
In any case, washing a child in the permitted manner may only be done if the child receives a bath on a daily
even if it will get wet.28
One who is very hot is permitted to take a cold shower on Yom Tov.29 One should not take a lukewarm shower
on Yom Tov since one has to turn on the hot water for this purpose, which is not permitted when one would be
washing his whole body.30
1 Sefer Shemos 12:16.
2 Refer to Rambam Hilchos Yom Tov 1:5, Shulchan Aruch 495:1, Rama, Pri Megadim Eishel Avraham 511:4, Shita Mekubetzes
3 Mesechtas Kesubos 7a.
(kuntres achron), Tosefta Chazzon Yecheskel Beitzah 2:7:page 76. See Chinuch mitzvah 298.
6 Pri Megadim Eishel Avraham 511:4. Refer to Bais Meir Y.D. 197:3.
7 Refer to footnote 4.
8 O.C. 511:2, see Mesechtas Beitzah 21b.
9 Tosfas ibid, Rambam ibid, Prisha 2, Shulchan Aruch 511:2, Levush 2, Magen Avraham 4, Taz 2, Sharei Teshuva 511, Sdei Chemed
Yom Tov 7:page 213, Mishnah Berurah 10. Refer to Betzel Hachuchma 2:31:pages 61-63.
Shulchan Aruch 511:2. The Rambam ibid says washing ones whole body is forbidden because of a gezeirah. (Refer to Taz 4, Levush
10 511:30.
Rivevos Ephraim 6:265, 8:248:1:page 276, Shulchan Shlomo 511:2:3. Some say even a shower once a week may be considered equal
to all (Shulchan Shlomo 511:footnote 3). Parenthetically a five minute shower uses about 15-25 gallons of water.
Eliezer 6:20, 11:64, Opinion of Horav Elyashiv Shlita quoted in Avnei Yushfei 3:55.
16 Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita.
17 Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. Refer to Shulchan Shlomo 511:2:3:2.
18 Mishnah Berurah 9, Piskei Teshuvos 511:footnote 25, The Laws of Yom Tov page 201.
19 Natei Gavriel Yom Tov 31:2.
20 Refer to Shulchan Shlomo 511:2:3.
the fact that when one takes hot water from the tap etc he is making cold water get heated up since cold water enters when the hot
water leaves the water heater. Refer to Avnei Yushfei ibid if water cooked in a dud-shemesh common in Eretz Yisroel is considered
cooked on Yom Tov or before Yom Tov.
22 Based on a discussion with an expert in the field.
23 Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita.
24 Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita.
26 Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Mishnah Berurah 9.
2:page 252 if one may give a child a bath if he is very dirty. The Avnei Yushfei 3:55 is lenient.