Rabbi Rules on Sunbathing on Shabbat, Citing Dyeing Prohibition

Rabbi Yigal Cohen, head of the "Yabia Omer" institutions and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, addressed the question of whether sunbathing is permitted on Shabbat, relating it to the prohibition of "melacha tzovea" (the act of dyeing).

In his daily Halacha (Jewish law) segment, Rabbi Cohen explained that sunbathing could be considered a violation of the Shabbat prohibition against dyeing. The prohibition stems from the biblical commandment not to perform certain types of work on Shabbat, including dyeing, which involves changing the color of an object. The rabbi's reasoning suggests that the sun's rays, by causing tanning, are seen as altering the skin's color, akin to a dyeing process.

This ruling is part of a daily segment on Shabbat laws provided by Rabbi Cohen. The article does not provide further details on the specific reasoning or potential leniencies, nor does it mention any dissenting opinions or broader rabbinical discussions on the matter. The context is a daily "Halacha" feature from the news outlet "B'hadrei Haredim."