Today we learn a lot about the skin care regimes of the Rabbis as we consider which facial cleaners are Muktzeh (not supposed to be moved on Shabbat) and which are acceptable on Shabbat. We learn that we may wash our face, hands and feet with niter and sand (niter is saltpeter). We also learn that we can use powdered brick, sesame pulp (The Neusner translation says this is poppy pomade scented with jasmine), crushed pepper, a mixture of aloe, myrtle and violets (I am pretty sure I have seen something similar at Whole Foods). I assume that the Rabbis mention all of these astringents because they were actually in use.

Remember, we discussed extensively previously bathing on Shabbat. While we don’t generally do anything but wash our hands and face in water on Shabbat, we can also use these other methods to clean our faces. However, we learn an important limitation to this practice, “A man may scrape crusts of filth and crusts of a wound from upon his flesh because of his discomfort, but if done to beautify himself, it is forbidden.” This passage is immediately followed by another passage, creating a tension, “A man should wash his face, hands and feet each day in honor of his creator”. Men therefore must not do anything that would be considered womanly (Deuteronomy 22:5 (“A woman must not put on man’s apparel, nor shall a man wear woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord your God.”)). However, cleanliness is next to Godliness as we honor God since we were made in God’s image. We therefore must clean ourselves on Shabbat without appearing womanly, unless we happen to be a woman.

We begin our Daf with a discussion of how Muktzeh items can be relieved of their Muktzeh status. If you remember our Mishnah from yesterday, we can use wool shearings as insulation on Shabbat. We can even remove a pot from the wool insulation and replace it (although this is not a unanimous opinion). Wool shearings are generally considered Muktzeh because of their commercial value. However, we allow their use and movement on Shabbat, if they are used for insulation. Do they lose their Muktzeh status because we actually use them for something other than their normal use? If so, does the use have to occur before Shabbat? Is it intention that matters and actual use is irrelevant? We also consider date palm branches that are generally used as firewood and Muktzeh. What if we intend to use them as a bench on Shabbat? Does it matter if they will later be used as firewood? We also consider bandages and straw strewn as part of bedding. One concrete rule we do learn, “A person may bring a basketful of earth into his house before the Sabbath and use it for all his needs on the Sabbath, e.g., to cover unsightly filth or saliva on the floor of his house.” My wife will be so relieved.