Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Baby Wipes Part #2 - The Tshuvos

While there is not a single tshuvah, anywhere, which allows the use of baby wipes, there are a number of related leniencies in responsa from R' Tzvi Pesach Frank zt"l, R' Moshe Feinstein zt"l, and YMch"Lch R' Yechezkel Roth Shli"ta.

R’ Tzvi Pesach Frank in Shu”t Har Tzvi was asked if a person may dampen and squeeze out toilet paper before Shabbos for use on Shabbos.
He responds leniently, stating that a) The tissue is being dirtied, b) the person will not squeeze any water out while wiping himself (the tissue is quite dry), c) The water might be considered to be going to waste, d) The water is not naturally a part of the paper, and e) Water is not normally squeezed out of such tissue.

R' Moshe seems to be discussing wiping up a spill with a napkin (though this is contested, see on).
He allows it, stating that we have "trei drabonan": a) He is about to dispose of the napkin, b) The water does not get absorbed into the fibers of the napkin, only between them, c) The water is going to waste, d) It is not normal to squeeze water [from napkins], e) it is not his intention to squeeze out the water, f) the water might not get squeezed out [it is not a psik reshei].

R' Roth specifically says that using baby wipes is forbidden by the Torah, with the exception of one brand which uses plastic fibers and synthetic soap. He writes that this brand may be used to lightly wipe a baby, since it is a "shvus dshvus bmakom mitzvah": a) The water is not absorbed into the fibers themselves, b) the fibers are not from something that grows in the ground, c) it is not his intention to squeeze out the water,and d) the water might not get squeezed out [it is not a psik reshei]. It should be noted that he would probably allow such wipes to be used with force if there were no other way to clean the baby.

(continued...)

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