Q. Is it permitted to get dressed while still dripping wet from immersing on Shabbos or is it considered laundering?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 326: 7) rules that one is permitted and should use a towel to dry his body or hair, provided it is it done gently and slowly; vigorous or spirited drying should be avoided. The use a towel is permitted, since one does not mind it getting wet, and will not come to squeeze it.
Clothing should not be made wet as one may indeed forget and squeeze the water out of it. (Biur Halocho 326: 7Orchos Shabbos 13:51, quoting Rav Y.S. Elyashiv.; Ketzos ha-Shulchan 133, Baddei Hashulchan 8Minchas Shabbos 86:6; Kaf ha-Chayim 320:111; Note that Rav S.Z. Auerbach permits vigorous drying as well, if the water is immediately absorbed in the towel; see also Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchasah 14, note 66 and Me’or Ha-Shabbos, vol. 3, letter 34.).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
Important Numbers
