Your hands are covered in mud on Yom Kippur. Can you wash them?
The Rambam distinguishes pleasure-washing from necessity. Filth, dirt, mud — wash normally. The prohibition is against washing that provides physical enjoyment.
Question 2
Can you wade through a stream on Yom Kippur to visit your Torah teacher?
Halacha 6: wading to greet a teacher, father, or Torah superior is permitted. The mitzvah takes precedence, and the water contact is incidental rather than pleasurable.
Question 3
Why does the Rambam specifically prohibit sitting on moist mud?
Sitting on moist mud allows moisture to rise and cool the body — a form of physical pleasure akin to washing. The Rambam is precise: it's the cooling effect, not the mud itself.
Question 4
The Rambam mentions two customs about candle-lighting on Yom Kippur night. What does he conclude?
A beautiful moment: some communities light (to promote modesty between spouses, discouraging relations), some don't (darkness itself discourages). The Rambam says both are legitimate. Communal custom is respected.
Question 5
What is the exception for anointing on Yom Kippur?
Medical need overrides: if you have a skin condition or medical requirement for ointment, it's permitted. The prohibition targets pleasure and comfort, not medical necessity.