- Shabbat and Holidays
- Cream and Ointment
Handcream on Shabbos
Question
Thank you for your response. You wrote " In comment 3 he mentions: "If one would like all the cream to be absorbed into the body and none to remain on the skin, then there is no prohibition of Memare’aĥ (MA 316:24; MB ad loc. 49). Therefore, if one is sick enough that he may receive medical treatment on Shabbat, and he requires a cream, it may be spread on the skin and rubbed in until it is absorbed entirely by the body (Da’at Torah 328:26; R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach cited in SSK ch. 33 n. 64"
I have exome, which sometimes could be really uncomfortable, especially by a 3 Day Yom Tov. What you write " If one would like all the cream to be absorbed into the body and none to remain on the skin, then there is no prohibition of Memare’a" could apply, because the all I need is that the cream should be absorbed into the skin. Is there still room to be struck not to smear cream onto my hands.
Answer
Thank you for your question,
Yes in your case that you suffer from eczema you may smear the cream on your hands. As far as Memare’a"--it's o.k. since you want it to be absorbed in your hands (some poskim disagree with that but you can rely on the poskim who permit it).
There is another problem and that is the use of medicine on Shabbos. But if you started taking it before Shabbos then you may continue once Shabbos begins. If you didn't start taking it before Shabbos but the skin condition causes you to be very uncomfortable you may rely on the poskim who permit using these types of medicines (see Peninei Halacha Shabbat, 28:5)
All the best

deodorant
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tammuz 15, 5782

Creams & Ointments
Rabbi Eliezer S. Weisz | 14 Sivan 5764

Apply Serum on shabbat
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 22, 5780

deodorant
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tammuz 15, 5782
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch studied for many years at the famed Mercaz HaRav yeshiva in Jerusalem. He currently lives in Kedumim in the Shomron, where he studies at the yeshiva and teaches classes for adults. In addition, he teaches at an elementary school.
Follow up question
Nisan 23, 5781
Minyan
Iyyar 5, 5781
Bitul
Nisan 19, 5781
How to dispose of lulav with respect?

Contact Lenses on Shabbat
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 27, 5772

Food, medications and Yom Kippur
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 13, 5780

Taking medicine on Yom Kipur
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 28 Av 5766

Exercise on Shabbat
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 9 Nisan 5763
converting to Jewaism
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Elul 25, 5783

fast on yom kipper
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 9, 5784

Urgent School Project
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 25, 5783
