Can you brush your teeth on Shabbat?

Author: Cristina Heller  |  Last update: Saturday, June 7, 2025

You may not use toothpaste on Shabbat. You may use water, tooth powder, and toothwashing liquid on Shabbat but, to avoid squeezing the toothbrush bristles, you must put the water or toothwashing liquid into your mouth and not on the brush.

Can Jews brush their teeth on Shabbat?

Brushing without toothpaste is permitted,67 provided that the following conditions are met: Use a toothbrush that is designated for Shabbos use only. 68 Some poskim require that the Shabbos toothbrush also look different from the weekday one, e.g., be of a distinct color or style. 69.

Is it OK to shower on Shabbat?

37 But only bathing or showering whole or most of the body, even one limb at a time, is forbidden. Partial body washing, i.e., less than half of the body, is permitted with hot water that was heated before Shabbos38.

What are you not allowed to do on Shabbat?

No cooking, no washing, no sewing, no planting, no reaping, no burning, no extinguishing, no carrying … it's a long list. For the most strictly observant Jews, known as Orthodox, the faithful keeping of Shabbat means not violating any of these rules.

Can you use mouthwash on Shabbat?

Some suggest that there is room for greater leniency with respect to hands because the scent dissipates quickly (see Piskei Teshuvos 322:7). However, the Shevet Haleivi equates the entire body to hands and allows the use of mouthwash on Shabbos.

Can you brush your teeth on Shabbat?

Can Jews use toilet paper on Shabbat?

Indeed, a roll of toilet paper is muktza[3] on Shabbat and may not be used or moved unless one is faced with no alternative, as will be explained below.

Can you chew gum on Shabbat?

You may not carry items in your mouth outside a private domain or an eruv on Shabbat. EXAMPLES: Outside a private domain or an eruv, you may not carry food in your mouth that you were eating when you left your house. You may not chew gum in a public area without an eruv.

What are 5 things you cannot do on the Sabbath?

The 39 Categories of Sabbath Work Prohibited By Law
  • Carrying.
  • Burning.
  • Extinguishing.
  • Finishing.
  • Writing.
  • Erasing.
  • Cooking.
  • Washing.

Can you flush the toilet on Shabbat?

It goes without saying that flushing a toilet is permitted on Shabbat.

Can you watch TV on Shabbat?

Television and radio

Most rabbinical authorities have prohibited watching television during Shabbat, even if the TV is turned on before the start of Shabbat, and its settings are not changed.

How often do Jews shower?

Once a week or so was pretty standard, so it was relatively easy for the rabbis to suggest that you take your weekly shower before Shabbat, and not during Shabbat. And hey, Shabbat is only 25 or so hours long, so it's not completely unreasonable to ask people to stay out of the shower for those hours even now.

Can you wear deodorant on Shabbat?

Q15: Can a person use deodorant or antiperspirant spray on Shabbos? Deodorant merely masks smell and is not medicinal; therefore, it may be used on Shabbos. Stick deodorant should not be used due to the prohibition of smearing. Antiperspirant which has been formulated to prevent sweating should not be used on Shabbos.

Can you nap on Shabbat?

It's true that napping on Shabbat is certainly considered a delight, but unlike food and drink, it's not a requirement. On the contrary, we should weigh our priorities and make sure that we don't snooze our way through the spiritual opportunities that Shabbat presents us with.

Can Jews make love on the Sabbath?

Today, Jewish people in many different communities have the practice to set aside time on Shabbat for sexual intimacy. Shabbat is considered a particularly holy time to fulfill the mitzvahs of onah (pleasurable marital relations) and pru ur'vu (be fruitful and multiply).

Can I wash my hair on Sabbath?

It is forbidden to shower on Shabbat. You may blot your hair with a towel on Shabbat as long as you don't squeeze or wring out your hair.

Is oral allowed in Judaism?

Oral sex, up until ejaculation, is entirely permitted according to most Talmudic and halachic authorities although ejaculation should only take place within the vagina.

Why can't Jews use toilet paper on Shabbat?

We are allowed to use toilet paper on shabbos, we just are not allowed to tear on Shabbos. So many Jewish families will pre tear it or use tissue paper.

Can you knock on a door during Shabbat?

You may not use a knocker on a door on Shabbat. You may knock on a door using your fist or knuckles. Doing so will not inevitably (psik reisha) make a furrow. You may walk into the path of an electric eye if it only prevents a door from closing but not if it causes the door to open.

Are you allowed to wash your hands on Shabbat?

On Shabbat, some people wash their hands before blessing and eating the challah. This ritual can be traced back to ancient times when the priests lived off of donations from farmers.

Can you shower on Shabbat?

According to traditional guidelines, using hot water for bathing is generally prohibited on Shabbat. This is because heating water typically involves igniting a flame or using electricity, both of which are forbidden.

Can you use a microwave on Sabbath?

The Orthodox Union Torah website said the Torah doesn't allow cooking on the Sabbath and there are restrictions around reheating food, such as not using microwaves. Some Jewish people follow these practices and there are household appliances already primed for meeting these religious accommodations.

Can you go to the gym on Sabbath?

Is this allowed? The Mishnah in Shabbos (147a) states: “One may anoint with oil and massage [lightly] but not hard (lo misam'lin)” and the Tosefta in Shabbos (17:16) states: “One may not run on Shabbos in order to exercise (lehisamel) but one may travel normally and need not worry”.

Can I brush my teeth on the Sabbath?

Halachic Summary. Some poskim permit brushing one's teeth on Shabbat, while some forbid doing so. Some poskim hold that if one does brush his teeth on Shabbat, he should use liquid toothpaste. It is permitted to use mouthwash on Shabbat.

Why can't you boil water on Shabbat?

As stated above, on Shabbos it is always forbidden to add water. The heating element and cover cause this to be hatmona b'davar hamosif hevel, covering with something that adds heat, which is prohibited on Shabbos. (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 257:1, Mishnah Brurah 253:69).

Can you push a stroller on Shabbat?

Carrying a baby who cannot yet walk (or a child who is asleep) is considered as regular carrying, and is forbidden. For this reason it is not allowed to carry, or push a baby carriage, in a place that is not surrounded by an eruv.

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