Photogrey Glasses on Shabbos

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glassesBy Rabbi Yehuda Spitz

A story is told about Rebbetzin Leah Auerbach a”h, wife of Rav Ezriel Auerbach shlit”a, whose doctor (ophthalmologist, perhaps) prescribed photogrey glasses for her. These are glasses with photochromatic lenses, which darken when exposed to direct sunlight, and become transparent when removed from the sunlight. The doctor, attuned to religious sensitivities, explained to her that some authorities feel that one should refrain from wearing them on Shabbos, while others maintain that they are acceptable for Shabbos use. He instructed her to ask her rabbi for a final halachic decision.

But to understand the halachic issues involved, a bit of background is needed. Photochromatic lenses contain millions of molecules of silver chloride or silver halide embedded in them. These molecules are transparent to visible light in the absence of ultraviolet rays, which is normal for artificial lighting. But, when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays, as in direct sunlight, the molecules undergo a chemical process that causes them to change shape and absorb portions of the visible light, causing the lenses to darken.

The potential issue with wearing such lenses on Shabbos is that of “Tzoveya“, Dyeing, one of the 39 Sabbath-prohibited categories of “creative labor” (melachos). It must be noted that our potential issue with photogrey glasses cannot be considered part of the actual Biblical prohibition, as that is exclusive to a type of dyeing that leaves a lasting effect (miskayeim). Rather, it’s a potential Rabbinical prohibition of temporary coloration, arguably similar to makeup application, which falls under this prohibition.

Many contemporary authorities debate this issue, with the vast majority offering different rationales why photochromatic lenses are dissimilar to the makeup case and should be permissible to be worn on Shabbos. These include:

1.      The dyeing that is forbidden on Shabbos is limited to coloration which results from applying one substance to another, i.e. purple dye upon wool. Coloration caused by exposure to the sun’s rays, would therefore be excluded from the prohibition.

2.      There is no tangible action being done by the person himself, rather by the sun and shade. The fact that one is actively walking in and out of the sun is irrelevant, as he is not doing any extra activity to accomplish the lenses darkening.

3.      There is no actual dyeing happening; as soon as the lenses are taken out of direct sunlight they revert back to clear, similar to covering and uncovering an object.

4.      There is no concrete change happening to the glasses, only their appearance changes; the chemicals are always inside and their nature is to transform back and forth depending on exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, they are simply shading the eye from the sun.

5.      The coloring effect is a temporary occurrence whose existence is continuously dependant upon exposure to the sun.

6.      The coloring and subsequent reversion to clearness is part of the lenses’ regular designed function.

Several decisors mention more that one reason to permit wearing photogrey glasses on Shabbos, while others simply write that there is no issue at all with them. Although some are uneasy about certain aspects of the various halachic rationales, nevertheless, the consensus of virtually all contemporary authorities, including Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, the Debreciner Rav, his brother – Rav Betzalel Stern, the Tzitz Eliezer, Rav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, Rav Ovadia Yosef, Rav Menashe Klein, the Rivevos Efraim, and Rav Nissim Karelitz, is to rule permissively, and allow photogrey glasses to be worn on Shabbos. This is also how many works written on the Laws of Shabbos conclude.

However, there is a minority opinion: that of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. He maintains that since the glasses do not revert back to clear immediately after going indoors, it might be considered having a slight lasting effect, and possibly might be therefore included in the Rabbinical prohibition of Tzoveya. Due to this potential issue, he advises not to wear photochromatic lenses on Shabbos.

With this halachic background in mind, we return to Rebbetzin Auerbach. As requested of her, she asked the opinions of the greatest rabbis she knew of: her father, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlit”a, and her father-in-law, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, none other than the preeminent Gedolei HaDor!

At her next visit, she told the doctor that she is in bit of a quandary, as her father told her she should not wear them on Shabbos, while her father-in-law told her she may. “Lady”, the obviously oblivious ophthalmologist replied, “I told you to ask a rabbi, not your parents!!”

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This article originally appeared on the Ohr Somayach website: www.ohr.edu.

For any questions, comments or for the full Mareh Mekomos / sources, please email the author:[email protected]

Rabbi Yehuda Spitz serves as the Shaul U’ Meishiv and Rosh Chabura of the Ohr Lagolah Halacha Kollel at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim. He also currently writes a contemporary halacha column for the Ohr Somayach website titled “Insights Into Halacha“. http://ohr.edu/this_week/insights_into_halacha/.


[1] This story is found in R’ Hanoch Teller’s biography of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, “And From Jerusalem, His Word” (in an unpaginated lengthy photo caption in the median following pg. 264).

Explanation based on www.science.howstuffworks.com.

Mishna in Maseches Shabbos 73a.

Rambam (Hilchos Shabbos Ch. 9, 13), Maggid Mishna (ad loc), Mishna Berura (320, 59 and Shaar Hatzion ad loc 66), Ketzos HaShulchan (146 and Badei HaShulchan 20).

Mishna / Gemara Shabbos 94b – 95a, Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 303, 25), Chayei Adam (Shabbos 24, 1), Shulchan Aruch HaRav (O.C. vol. 2, 320, 28), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (80, 42), Aruch Hashulchan (303, 30), Mishna Berura (303, 79; 320, 59 and Shaar Hatzion ad loc 66).

This topic was debated in several issues of the Kovetz Olas HaChodesh in the late 1970’s.

Shu”t Yechaveh Daas (vol. 2, 47), Yalkut Yosef (Shabbos vol. 2, 301, 34 and footnote 35), Contemporary Halakhic Problems vol. 2, pg. 14. See also Kehillas Yaakov (on Maseches Shabbos, 40, 2 s.v. v’yesh) who although not addressing this issue, defines the act of Tzoveya similarly, that dying is something added to tangibly improve the item.

Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa (vol. 1, Ch. 18, footnote 70 and Miluim), Shulchan Shlomo (vol. 2, 320, 19, footnote 29), Shu”t Ba’er Moshe (vol. 6, 46), Nishmas Avraham (vol. 1, 301, end footnote 3). In a related topic, see Shu”t Minchas Yitzchak (vol. 5, 32, 2 s.v. aval) and Shu”t Az Nidberu (vol. 2, 30), who maintain that one should refrain from going out in the sun on Shabbos expressly to get a suntan, as it might be considered doing an action of tzoveya derabbanan.

Shu”t Igros Moshe (O.C. vol. 3, 45), Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer (vol. 14, 32, s.v. v’shainis).

Shu”t Mishna Halachos (vol. 8, 44), Shu”t Ba’er Moshe (above), Shu”t B’tzeil HaChochma (vol. 4, 4), Shulchan Shlomo (above, reason 2), Shu”t Az Nidberu (vol. 2, 30).

Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk’s Zachor V’Shamor (vol. 3, Tzoveya, pg. 16), Rabbi Dovid Ribiat’s The Thirty-Nine Melachos (vol. 3, Tzoveya, Section 3/E/f/2).

See Rabbi Dovid Ribiat’s The Thirty-Nine Melachos (vol. 3, Tzoveya, Section 3/E/f/1, pg.748), based on the above-mentioned authorities.

For example Shu”t Shevet HaLevi (vol. 4, 23, 5), Shu”t Rivevos Efraim (vol. 3, 226), and Chut Shani (Shabbos vol. 1, Ch. 20, pg. 157 s.v. aval).

See Shu”t Machazeh Eliyahu (65, 6 s.v. vc”c; however, in his later English Zachor V’Shamor ibid. – he explicitly writes that they are permitted to be worn), Shu”t Nishmas Shabbos (vol. 4, 292, who concludes that it’s preferable to be stringent), and Shu”t Avnei Yashpei (vol. 2, 39, who concludes similarly).

Including Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa (above), Zachor V’Shamor (above), Toras HaMelachos (Melacha 15, 22, pg. 173-174), Orchos Shabbos (vol. 1, Ch. 15, 66), and The Thirty-Nine Melachos (above).

Cited in Shu”t Avnei Yashpei (above) and Ashrei HaIsh (vol. 2, Ch. 27, 1).

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10 COMMENTS

  1. Here’s the full story- Rebbetzin Auerbach, daughter of Rav Elyashiv, told the optician “My father permits it but my father in law (Rav SZ Auerbach) does not.” The optician (not aware who she was) said “Why are you asking them, why not ask a Rabbi?”

  2. i just love the last line.

    From experience most people who wear photogrey lenses have sensitive, weaker eyes and need the shielding from the sun for medical reasons also.

  3. To #2
    Most people today do not wear photo grey lenses -the are glass, heavy and less safe than plastic or polycarbonate lenses. Most people wear Transition lenses – which is found in lenses made of materials other than glass.
    These lenses are marketed as a comfort lens and not a true substitute for true
    sunglasses. They do not get as dark as a true sunglass lens, although on cold sunny days they do get pretty close to a true sunglass.
    They also do not get dark behind a car windshield. The Transition lens is a good substitute for those who do not want to carry a second pair of glasses specifically for the sun; thus it is a very good solution for Shabbos. There is no ” dying” process either temporary or permanent. UV light causes the reaction and lack of UV reversed it completely . Just like bright light makes our pupils constrict and lack of light causes dilation.

  4. a very well put together and great article! I thoroughly enjoyed it. To Matzav – i would love to see more by this author: Rabbi Spitz’s style is very effective in presenting the issue, walking thru the factors, and wrapping it up (with a touch of good humor!)

  5. Excellent article

    However, it should be pointed out that in deference to Kivud Av,
    Rebbetzin Auerbach a”h should have been stringent and not worn them.

    I still have one caveat. She is wearing them for health reasons. The
    shailah is can she wear them according to those who are stringent if
    it means she will have to stay in doors the entire Shabbos? What
    about a man, who wears them so that he doesn’t get eye-damage on his
    way to Shul?

  6. theres only one problem with this article. i asked my rabbi – who knows r’ ezriel auerbac and he told me that the story isn’t true!

  7. to daniel:
    your question is very nogeya to me – I happen to be extremely sensitive to light, and in New York (where there was no Eruv) and before I had eye surgery, used to always go out in the daytime with clip-ons for my glasses – the type that are specifically made to fit the frame in question. One Rav told me that I should not use these on Shabbos, as there is a chance that I’d take them off and carry – even though I was using them for what were real medical reasons (I get migraines from bright light). When I told him that without sunglasses, I could not go outside, his answer was “so stay at home!” – not particularly helpful.

    I then spoke with a different Rav, who advised using photosensitive glasses. I couldn’t use the all the time, since they don’t get as dark as regular sunglasses, but at least on Shabbos, they provided some protection. In other words, I was specifically advised to use these lenses on Shabbos!

    That should help solve your issue!

  8. Although this might very well be a story that is told about Reebetzin Auerbach, I highly doubt that it has any basis in fact.

    There is no doubt that the optometrist Rebbetzin Auerbach would have used was Dr. Yonah Emanuel, a talmid chacham who was extremely close to the Auerbach family and would have been well-aware who her father and father-in-law were.

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