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3. May one bathe in warm water?[1]
The letter of the law: It is certainly permitted to bathe in warm water heated from before Shabbos as even the waters of a river in the summer are considered warm, or [waters] that are in a [heated] house in the winter [are considered warm, and nevertheless are permitted to wash with on Shabbos].[2] [See Q&A regarding the definition of warm water.] However hot [or even warm] water which was heated on Shabbos even in a permitted way is forbidden to use to wash even one limb, even if the [water] was only slightly heated that it is not Yad Soledes.[3]
The custom today[4]: Due to that not everyone knows to beware in all the Halachic matters involved in bathing [as brought in 2B], therefore the custom spread in these provinces to not bathe at all on Shabbos, not even with cold water even though there is no prohibition involved from the letter of the law [in doing so].
| Summary:
From the letter of the law, it is permitted to bathe in warm water that was heated from before Shabbos, although the custom is to avoid doing so. However, water which was heated on Shabbos [whether by fire or by the sun[5]] is forbidden to bathe in even if only warm.
Q&A What is defined as warm water as opposed to hot water?[6] There is room to learn from Admur and the Poskim[7] that so long as the water is less than Yad Soledes then it is not considered hot and is thus allowed. Practically however, the Poskim[8] rule that even less than Yad Soledes is considered hot[9], and so long as the water is warmer than body temperate [37 celsius; 98.6 F], or its heat is felt in it, then it is forbidden just like hot water. Others[10] however write that since the measurement of hot water is not recorded, it most likely refers to all waters that people call hot, [and not necessarily to water that is above or below body temperature]. |
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[1] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 326:1; Shabbos Kehalacha 18:19 Tosefes Biur 1 for all the opinions on this matter
[2] Supplement from Mahadurah Basra chapter 259 Page 884 in the new Shulchan Aruch; Chacham Tzevi 11 which forbids for women to immerse in water on Shabbos that is called hot, rather it must be cold or slightly warm; Nodah Beyehudah Tenyana Orach Chayim 24 that women may bathe in warm Mikvaos but not hot Mikvaos; Aruch Hashulchan 326:3; P”M 511 M”Z 5; Ashel Avraham Butchach 326; Tehila Ledavid 326:3; Minchas Shabbos, brought in Ketzos Hashulchan 133 footnote 1; Shevisas Hashabbos Mivaehseil 125; M”B 326:7; Igros Moshe 1:126; SS”K chapter 14 footnote 3; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid; Shabbbos Kehalacha ibid;
Other Poskim: Some Poskim rule that warm water is forbidden to bathe in just like hot water [Beis Meir Y.D. 197:3; Rambam brought in Biur Halacha; However the M”B himself 326:7 writes that bathing in warm water is allowed [for Mikveh]. Some however write that in truth the M”B holds that only water in which some coldness is felt is allowed, and it is by this warmth that he allows to bathe, however water which its heat is felt is forbidden as writes the Rambam, as he brings in Biur Halacha. [Az Nidbaru, brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos 326:2].
[3] Admur 326:4; Supplement from Mahadurah Basra chapter 259 Page 884 in the new Shulchan Aruch; M”B 326:17; Igros Moshe 1:126; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid; Shabbbos Kehalacha ibid
[4] Admur 326:6
[5] See Previous Halacha Q&A there!
[6] See Shabbos Kehalacha 18:29; Piskeiy Teshuvos 326:1 and footnote 14
[7] In Halacha 4 [brought above in Halacha 1C] regarding water heated on Shabbos Admur mentions “even if it will not be heated to Yad Soledes”, implying that before Shabbos only water that is heated to Yad Soledes is forbidden. [Ketzos Hashulchan ibid] See Shabbos Kehalacha ibid 18 Tosefes Biur 1
[8] Tehila Ledavid 326:3; Ketzos Hashulchan 133 footnote 1 in name of Minchas Shabbos; Minchas Yitzchak 4:44; Or Letziyon 2:35-3; See SS”K chapter 14 footnote 3
[9] As the Rashba explicitly writes that people do not generally bathe in hot water that is above Yad Soledes.
[10] Aruch Hashulchan 326:3; This ruling is also found in the Chacham Tzevi 11 which forbids for women to immerse in water on Shabbos that is called hot, rather it must be cold or slightly warm; Zera Emes 71
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