Rabbi Yehuda Finchas
Sammy woke up on Shabbat morning, excruciating pain shooting through his jaw. He arrived at my door barely able to speak, his face contorted, clutching his cheek. “Rabbi,” he whispered, “the pain medication isn’t helping. I don’t know what to do – can I have my tooth pulled even though it’s Shabbat?”
Later that week, Dr. Isaac Levi, a Jewish dentist, posed a related question: “If a Jewish patient asks me to extract a tooth on Shabbat, would I be allowed to help?” I can walk to the dental surgery and all my assistants are non-Jewish, but I would still be the one performing the extraction, which will inevitably cause bleeding.”
The Potential Halachic Issues
Extracting a tooth on Shabbat raises several halachic concerns discussed by the poskim:
Chovel (Wounding): Causing bleeding is forbidden on Shabbat. Since tooth extraction almost always causes bleeding, this is a central issue.
Kotzer (Harvesting): Some poskim have compared removing a tooth to uprooting a plant from the ground. However, most authorities reject this comparison, arguing that kotzer applies only to items that grow from the earth – not to teeth.
Gozez (Shearing): Others suggest it may resemble cutting skin tabs, hair or nails (the melacha of gozez), which is also forbidden. Yet, many poskim disagree since gozez applies only to things that grow back, like hair or wool – not teeth.
Refuah: Engaging in medical treatment is rabbinically restricted on Shabbat.
Mesaye’a (Assisting in Prohibited Acts): If the patient opens his mouth, does he transgress Shabbat by assisting the dentist?
Despite these concerns, Maran the Beit Yosef (Orach Chaim 328, citing Orchot Chaim) writes that one who suffers tooth pain may instruct a non-Jew to extract it. This ruling is codified by the Rema (Orach Chaim 328:3). The Magen Avraham classified tooth extraction as a melacha, but the Biur Halacha argues it is only rabbinic, since the bleeding is not desired (psik reisha d’lo nicha lei), and Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, clarifies in Leviat hen (83) that the act is not considered melachah tzricha legufa and it is therefore derabanan.
Hacham Ovadia’s Analysis
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in Chazon Ovadia (Shabbat Vol. 3, p. 337), provides a comprehensive halachic analysis that rests on several foundational principles:
Melachah She’eina Tzericha Legufa: The extraction is not done for the bleeding, but rather, to relieve pain. As such, it is not a constructive act in the classic Torah sense, and is classified a melachah derabbanan (rabbinic prohibition).
Psik Reisha D’lo Nicha Lei: While bleeding is inevitable, it is neither intended nor desired. This further establishes its rabbinic rather than biblical status.
Mesaye’a Ein Bo Mamash: Minimal patient assistance (such as keeping the mouth open or turning the head) is not halachically significant in this situation. The patient is not transgressing Shabbat by cooperating with the dentist.
Conclusion
Tooth extraction on Shabbat is generally classified as a melachah she’eina tzericha legufa, accompanied by psik reisha d’lo nicha lei. It is therefore only a rabbinic prohibition. For someone in serious pain, halacha permits requesting a non-Jewish practitioner to perform the extraction, and the patient’s cooperation is not halachically problematic.
In Sammy’s case, if his pain was severe, halacha would allow him to ask a non-Jewish dentist to perform the extraction on Shabbat. As for Dr. Levi, who is Jewish, performing the extraction in such a case would be prohibited. If, however, there is any risk of infection spreading or other complications that could endanger life, the situation escalates to pikuach nefesh, and full treatment becomes not only permitted but is obligatory – even to be performed by a Jewish dentist, overriding biblical prohibitions if necessary.Rabbi Yehuda Finchas is a worldwide expert, lecturer, and author on Medical Halacha. He heads the Torat Habayit Medical Halacha Institute. He is the author of “Brain Death in Halacha and the Tower of Babel Syndrome” and “Nutrition and Hydration in Halacha.” To contact Rabbi Finchas, email rabbi@torathabayit.com.