Comments on: Can I Wear a Face Mask on Shabbos?

By: Author

Author — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 07:09:54 +0000

Those are seemingly valid points.
In regards to the second concern, of a person removing it while in the street, it seems that most times, people just pull it down from their mouth. See the end of this follow up article on that issue:
https://anash.org/is-wearing-masks-allowed-on-shabbos/

By: SB Engel

SB Engel — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:43:45 +0000

In the conclusion you make the point that “if it somehow does fall down on the ground, its hygienic potential would seemingly be lost and therefore a person would not necessarily pick it back up.”

This would seem to be relevant only to disposable masks. With regards to wearing reusable ones, however (which are washed and reused), if we are concerned it may fall off, the person will almost certainly not leave it on the floor (being that it’s expensive), and at the same time, would not put it back on. He would therefore likely carry it. (This is assuming we are concerned it may fall off, which may not be a concern for masks.)

Also, there is another concern (שוע”ר סי’ שא ס”ג) that the person may remove the garment while in the street. Would this apply in the case of wearing a mask? (It may get a bit hard to breathe, too hot etc.)

By: Author

Author — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 04:40:42 +0000

Correction:
The Tzemach Tzedek is actually not referring to a mask. The TT uses the word קאמפער, which the new edition of the TT, published by Kehos, translates as a piece of garment. However this is incorrect. The correct translation is “camphor” (e.g. https://translate.google.com/#view=home&op=translate&sl=auto&tl=en&text=%D7%A7%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A8), which is actually a sort of remedy (e.g. https://www.britannica.com/science/menthol).

Thank you to R’ Nochum Zajac for pointing this out.

By: Author

Author — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 02:46:24 +0000

FYI see a follow up article on this discussion:
https://anash.org/is-wearing-masks-allowed-on-shabbos/

By: Simcha

Simcha — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 04:22:59 +0000

In reply to Author. I still don't understand why were not afraid one will pull it down under their chin

By: Author

Author — Tue, 12 May 2020 05:43:19 +0000

In reply to shifra. No. It would be muttar to wear it in other localities as well.

By: shifra

shifra — Mon, 11 May 2020 07:44:16 +0000

Does it matter if one’s locality requires/recommends wearing a face mask/covering? Some stores/places won’t let you inside without them, although we ordinarily wouldn’t be shopping on Shabbas anyway. It would seem to me if something on your body fell to the ground, if you picked it up & put it back on, you wouldn’t have carried anything yet…

By: Author

Author — Tue, 05 May 2020 20:36:08 +0000

Reading glasses might not even be considered a Malbush. Since one has no need for them, when walking outside.

By: Simcha Rosenblatt

Simcha Rosenblatt — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 04:52:32 +0000

Is it not similar to reading glasses that we are machmir because it might become uncomfortable

By: Author

Author — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:37:09 +0000

In reply to Mendel.

According to my research, even those masks help the wearer to some degree.
If it would not help out all, there would be an issue even with the sevora of Malbush.

Kol tuv

By: Mendel

Mendel — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 02:47:56 +0000

Regarding calling it a tachshit because of medical properties, it might be important to note that most masks don’t really help to stop a person from catching what’s in the air from someone else, (unless they have a filter mask, which most people don’t have), and their main use is to stop a person from potentially spreading germs that he may be carrying.
I don’t know if this would actually make a difference lehalacha, being that there’s the sevara of malbush, but if the heter is based on the sevara of tachshit, then this heter might have to be rexamined