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Tuesday, 16 Shevat, 5786
  |  February 3, 2026

Swimming and Showering on Shabbos?

Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm of OnlineSmicha.com discusses a common issue for the summer days: can I for a swim on Shabbos? What about taking a shower? Video

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shower on shabbos
July 1, 2020 11:05 pm

Can you take a shower on Shabbos in place of going to a mikvah?

Yom Tov?
July 1, 2020 11:14 pm

Thanks. What about Yom Tov? Does the Gezeira apply to Yom Tov as well?
And what is the din of a unheated pool within an eiruv?

cold shower
July 2, 2020 5:53 am

In a nutshell…to go in a cold shower (most shower heads only cover a bit of body) just to cool off, no soap, would be no problem on Shabbos or Yom Tov

Incorrect
Reply to  cold shower
July 2, 2020 11:59 pm

I don’t believe your conclusion is correct (that a shower is considered washing only “part” of the body). When the Rabbi is saying “part of the body” he means washing just some of the limbs, but not the rest.

In fact, according to Rav Nissen Telushkin, A”H, a shower can serve as a shaas-hadechak substitute for a men’s tevilah. This is precisely because the whole body can be washed in a shower.

1.!
July 2, 2020 7:11 am

Could somebody tell me the answer to whether you could shower on Shabbos? Thanks

Yes
Reply to  1.!
July 3, 2020 1:44 am

if cold and your only washing your head hands and feet

Please explain Yom Tov
July 2, 2020 9:18 am

These videos are very helpful. Can you wash parts of your body on yom tov in a hot shower if you are careful not to squeeze?

Baruch
July 2, 2020 9:20 am

Can you please write transcripts if we Can’t watch videos

גזירה לגזירה לגזירה!!??
July 2, 2020 10:19 am

Are you calling it minhag or gzeira? Not to swim in an indoor pool is a minhog becouse of זיעה which in turn is a gzeira becouse if rchitza bichamin? Which in turn is a gzeira becouse of balonim? How do we explain that we don’t make גזירה לגזירה?

So, for summary?
July 2, 2020 11:11 am

what about going to the sea to get wet?
And also to swim in the beach/sea ?

Correction*
Reply to  So, for summary?
July 2, 2020 12:54 pm

….to swim in the beach/swimming pool*?

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