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Spreading Lanolin on Shabbos

Is lanolin allowed to be used on shabbos/yom tov. The way it’s used it that the cream is squeezed unto the finger and then rubbed so it becomes liquidy and then applied.

Answer:

Spreading lanolin cream (and other creams) raises a concern of memare’ach, and it should not be done in the normal fashion on Shabbos or Yom Tov.

The cream can be prepared on a plaster or pad before Shabbos, and applied on Shabbos. Alternatively, the cream can be placed on the spot without rubbing it in.

However, if these methods are not practical, and refraining from using the cream will cause significant discomfort, one can be lenient and spread the cream in the usual manner.

Best wishes.

Sources:

See Magen Avraham 316:24, who writes that memare’ach applies to spearing something on top of something else – and not when it is to be absorbed by the skin. This is cited by the Mishnah Berurah (49). The Eliyah Rabbah disputes this, but see for instance Daas Torah 328:26 and Orchos Chaim 328:22) who are lenient based on the Magen Avraham for cases of healing.

Although the Chazon Ish (52:16) writes that one should not spread cream, and this is the general custom (see Shulchan Shlomo 2 p. 455; Or Lezion 2 p. 256), one can be lenient for matters of illness or significant discomfort (see Yabia Omer Vol. 4 p. 118).

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