- Q. Dear Rov as I have mentioned in prior question, we are concerned with the potential Chilul Shabbos, for those who are not careful when Purim is on Friday. One important issue is the cleaning of the faces of the children and even adults that used common water paint or acrylics and watercolors, and they still have to remove it or some remainders of it, after Shabbos began.
A. Indeed attention and care should be taken to remove all you mentioned before sunset and kabbolas Shabbos.
However, Poskim debate as to what is the extent of the melacha of Mochek or erasing in regards to human skin.
Chaye Adam (40: 8) is stringent even regarding the black soot created by removing pots and pans from a charcoal fire.
Mishna Berura and others do not quote that opinion. Shemiras Shabbos (14: n 83) quoting Rav S”Z Auerbach ZT”L is lenient.
Other poskim permit for a woman that must remove her makeup on Shabbos for mikva imersion, yet others are stringent. (see soon following question).
Important Numbers
