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Siman 613 – Washing on Yom Kippur

These notes are intended solely to aid in the learning process and should not be considered authoritative halachic conclusions
Please do not rely on these notes l’maaseh

וChelek 6

  1. It is forbidden to wash on Yom Kippur whether in hot or cold water. Don’t even stick your finger into water. (ShA )
  1. If your skin is dirty, you may wash the affected area, because the prohibition applies only to pleasure washing. Still, have in mind that this washing is not for pleasure. (ShA – MB )
  1. Wash in the morning the same number of times as normal but only up until the knuckles. Do not have kavana for the pleasure of it rather just to rinse off the ruach ra’a. (ShA – MB )
  1. Do not wash your face at all. (MB )
  1. When using the bathroom after Maariv, since you won’t be daavening anymore, there is a doubt if you are allowed to wash or not. Therefore it is proper to wipe yourself clean with the hands thereby causing a requirement to wash the hands up until the knuckles according to all opinions. (MB )
  1. When using the bathroom during the day of Yom Kippur wash afterwards up to the knuckles, (and above if it became dirty) since you will be daavening. (MB -ShaH9)
  1. A cohen washes his hands up until the wrist before duchaning. (Rama – MB )
  1. If you have mucous in your eye you may wet your finger to remove it, just be careful not to wash any other place. (MB )
  1. You may not rinse your mouth on Yom Kippur. (Rama )
  1. It is dangerous and therefore always forbidden to go into water above your waist level, if it is flowing swiftly. (ShA – MB )
  1. It is prohibited to cool off by pressing your skin against a container of water. However , if it is empty, you may. You may likewise use a cool fruit against your skin.(ShA )
  1. These days, a bride within 30 days of her wedding may not avail herself of the hetter to wash her face for her new husband. (MB )
  1. Even if you normally do Tevillas Ezra for tefilla, do not do so on Yom Kippur. (ShA )
  1. A woman whose mikva date falls out on Yom Kippur night should prepare erev Yom Kippur – then, motzoay Yom Kippur prepare a little more and go toivel. (BeH “bazman”)
  1. A woman who is wearing white on Yom Kippur is allowed to rinse the privates a little bit but not with a cloth. (MB )