January 21, 2026 · 35:50
🔥 Brushing teeth on Shabbos – four primary halachic approaches – Issue is multi-faceted: **Memareiach**, **Sechitah**, **Hachanah**, **Refuah**, **Melabein**, **Uvdin d’chol**, **Chavalah** are all discussed in the literature. – **View 1 – Rav Soloveitchik / Rav Hershel Schachter**: – Permits **normal toothbrushing** on Shabbos with: – Regular toothpaste – Wet toothbrush – Rinsing the toothbrush afterward – Memareiach: Unlike smoothing a surface, brushing does not **grind down/smooth the teeth themselves**, only removes plaque. – Hachanah concern (washing toothbrush “for after Shabbos”): – Rav Schachter said it is **for cleanliness and Shabbos oneg**, not to prepare for after Shabbos (e.g., to avoid spouse being upset at a messy bathroom on Shabbos). – **View 2 – Rav Ovadia Yosef**: – Allows **wet toothbrush** and **regular toothpaste**. – Requires a **designated Shabbos toothbrush** to avoid **Uvdin d’chol** (weekday-like behavior). – Advises **not washing the toothbrush** afterward due to **Hachanah** concerns. – **View 3 – Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach / Rav Elyashiv (Rav Elyashiv Weinberg cited)**: – Forbids **regular toothpaste** due to **Memareiach**. – Allows **liquid toothpaste**. – Not particularly concerned with **Sechitah** when using liquid toothpaste. – **View 4 – Rav Moshe Feinstein** (followed by Rav Willig in practice): – Forbids using **any paste/gel** due to **Memareiach** when the paste is spread over the teeth. – Squeezing toothpaste from the tube is **not t