Daf Yomi - Yoma 74 - Face Washing

Daf Yomi - Yoma 74 - Face Washing

Tosfos Yeshonim states that it is forbidden min haTorah to wash or smear one's entire body on Yom Kippur. This is why it is permitted for a king or bride to wash their faces, for that would be only an issur midrobonon and the decree was never instituted by them.

The Gaon from Minsk asks that even though it's true that the Torah only forbade washing the entire body and not just their faces, but it should be forbidden min haTorah according to the opinions that chatzi shiur (less than the required amount)is forbidden min haTorah?

The Emek Brocha answers that chatzi shiur is ossur only when the Torah is particular on a certain amount. Here the Torah forbade washing the entire body for the benefit one receives from that washing is considered that he is not afflicting himself. Washing one's face is not a benefit that contradicts affliction and therefore the Torah did not forbid this and it will not be included in chatzi shiur as well.