Wearing Glasses, a Watch or Feminine Hygiene Products Outside on Shabbos
In an area where it is forbidden to carry on Shabbos…
Question: Is it permitted to wear a rain hat?
Discussion: Some poskim maintain that it is permitted to do so since, in their opinion, the plastic — which is designed to fit snugly over the hat — is considered an extension of the hat. This is considered derech malbush, since it is quite normal to protect one’s hat from the rain by covering it with a plastic cover.257 Other poskim disagree; in their opinion, a plastic rain hat is not an extension of the hat, but rather an object that protects the hat. Since it protects the hat itself, rather than the person wearing the hat, it is not considered derech malbush and is forbidden to be carried.258 Even these poskim agree, however, that the rain hat may be worn if the failure to wear it will result in rain penetrating one’s regular hat and splashing onto one’s head or face. Similarly, a woman may don a rain bonnet over her wig because the rain bonnet protects her head as well as the wig.
The poskim also agree on the following:
Any item that is not designed as a hat covering and does not fit snugly on the hat, such as a plastic bag or a shawl, may not be worn. If the bag is placed over the hat in such a way that it also serves as protection for the face, neck or body, then it is permitted.259
It is permitted to wear a raincoat even if the primary purpose of the raincoat is to protect the jacket or suit underneath the coat.260 The same holds true for wearing galoshes to protect one’s shoes from rain or snow.261
Question: Are there any restrictions on wearing eyeglasses?
Discussion: It depends on the type of eyeglasses:262
Regular eyeglasses, which are worn so that a person can see where he is going and what he is doing, may be worn without restriction.263
Reading glasses, which are worn only when one needs to read, may not be worn while walking in the street on Shabbos.
Bifocals and progressive bifocals, which are used for both reading and seeing, are permitted without restriction.
Non-prescription sunglasses, which protect the eyes from the sun, may not be worn on Shabbos. A person who has a medical condition that requires him to wear sunglasses outdoors is permitted to wear them in a karmelis but not in a reshus harabbim.
Optical sunglasses, which are regular eyeglasses used for seeing but are also tinted for protection from the sun, may be worn without restriction. Photogrey glasses are permitted as well.
Contact lenses are subject to the same rules as eyeglasses.
Question: May a woman who is in a state of niddah wear a tampon or a sanitary pad?
Discussion: During the days of a woman’s monthly cycle, when she is bleeding noticeably, all poskim agree that it permitted for her to wear a pad or tampon, since otherwise the blood will drip and splatter, causing physical discomfort.264 But as the flow tapers off and she is merely staining, many poskim maintain that she is no longer permitted to wear a tampon or pad outside her home. At this point, the main purpose of the tampon or pad is to protect her clothing, not her body, and it is no longer considered derech malbush.265 Still, if the pad is pressed tightly into her undergarments and does not move around (as if it is attached to the garment), she is permitted to “carry” it, since an attached pad is considered an extension of her undergarments and she is therefore not considered to be carrying it.266
The poskim debate whether it is permitted for a woman to walk out of her home with a moch dochuk, which women insert during bein hashemashos after their hefsek taharah. Some poskim strictly forbid it,267 others recommend against it,268 and still others are more lenient.269
Question: Is it permitted to wear a wristwatch?
Discussion: The rationales for permitting one to wear a wristwatch outside on Shabbos are:
1. A nice watch, especially one made of silver or gold, may be considered like a piece of jewelry, especially for people who wear their watches even if they are not working. Such an item can be classified as a tachshit (ornament), which may be worn outside.270
2. Even if it is not a tachshit, it may be considered derech malbush since the watch is worn directly on the wrist and is no different from any other item worn directly on a person’s body, which is considered a malbush.271
While many poskim do not accept these arguments and prohibit wearing a wristwatch on Shabbos — and it is appropriate to be stringent272 — there is clearly room for leniency, and we do not object to those who do wear wristwatches on Shabbos.273 Women, especially, may be more lenient and wear a gold or silver wristwatch on Shabbos, since women view an expensive watch primarily as a piece of jewelry and consider its function as a timepiece secondary. Thus, the watch is halachically viewed as a tachshit and may be worn.274
257. Har Tzvi (Tal Horim, Hotzahah 2); Chelkas Yaakov 2:100; Rav S.Z. Auerbach (quoted in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 18:10); Yabia Omer 5:24; Shevet ha-Levi 1:61-3.
258. Chazon Ish (Dinim v’Hanhagos 14:13); Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:108-110; Minchas Yitzchak 3:26; Ashrei ha-Ish, O.C., vol. 2, 14:11; Chut Shani, Shabbos, vol. 4, 88:13.
259. Aruch ha-Shulchan 301:66; Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 18:10 and note 46.
260. O.C. 301:14.
261. Minchas Shabbos 84:18; Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:108-109.
262. This entire paragraph is based on Ashrei ha-Ish, Shabbos 14:8-9; Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 18:16-18 Shevet ha-Levi 8:48; and Orchos Shabbos 28:127-129.
263. For a minority, dissenting opinion, see Chut Shani 88:6, quoting Chazon Ish.
264. O.C. 301:13 and Mishnah Berurah 51.
265. Igros Moshe, Y.D. 3:47-3.
266. Chut Shani, Shabbos, vol. 4, 88:8-4. See also Ashrei ha-Ish, Shabbos, 14:6.
267. Minchas Yitzchak 4:28-9; 5:37, quoting several poskim; Chut Shani, Shabbos, vol. 4, 88:8-5.
268. Igros Moshe, O.C. 3:47. See also Shevet ha-Levi 3:60.
269. Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 18, note 86).
270. See Beiur Halachah 301:11, s.v. bazeh; Minchas Shabbos 84:5; Chelkas Yaakov 1:89.
271. Chelkas Yaakov 1:67; Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:111; Rav S.Z. Auerbach quoted in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 18, note 113. See Megilas Sefer 41:1-3 for a complete discussion.
272. Chazon Ish (Dinim v’Hanhagos 14:8); Minchas Yitzchak 1:67.
273. Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:111.
274. Chut Shani, Shabbos, vol. 4, 88:2. See Orchos Shabbos 28:136.