SECTION 82 Laws Relating to Dry Feces. (1–2)
סימן פב דִּין צוֹאָה יְבֵשָׁה וּבוֹ ב' סְעִיפִים:
1 It is forbidden by Scriptural Law to recite [the Shema] in view of feces, even if they are as dry as a shard and are not malodorous.1 Even if they are so dry that they will crumble if thrown, there is room to question [whether they are still considered as feces, and accordingly the recitation of the Shema] should be forbidden, for in the case of a Scriptural requirement [such as this], any doubtful situation is adjudged stringently2 — unless [the feces] would crumble if rolled. For [dry feces] will crumble more readily if thrown than if rolled.
If they would crumble when rolled, they are considered as dust and it is permitted to recite [the Shema] in view of them, even though they have not yet crumbled. If, however, they will [merely] break in two when rolled, this is not sufficient [to change their status].
During the winter, when feces freeze as hard as stone, there is reason to doubt whether this is effective [in changing their status so that the Shema] may be recited in view of them. For though they are frozen, they are possibly still considered as feces and it is Scripturally forbidden [to recite the Shema in view of them] — just as [this is forbidden in view of] a lavatory that does not contain feces [at that time], because it is nevertheless called by that name, as will be explained in sec. 83[:1]. How much more should this possibility be considered here, since the feces can return to their original state due to warmth. Since the unresolved doubt involves a point of Scriptural Law, the more stringent opinion must be followed.
א צוֹאָה אֲפִלּוּ יְבֵשָׁה כַּחֶרֶס וְאֵין בָּהּ רֵיחַ כְּלָל – אָסוּר לִקְרוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּהּא מִן הַתּוֹרָה.ב,1 וַאֲפִלּוּ יְבֵשָׁה כָּל כָּךְ שֶׁאִם יִזְרְקֶנָּה נִפְרֶכֶתג – יֵשׁ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק וְלֶאֱסֹר,ד שֶׁסָּפֵק שֶׁל תּוֹרָה לְהַחֲמִיר2 עַד שֶׁיִּתְפָּרֵךְ עַל יְדֵי גְּלִילָה שֶׁיּוֹתֵר בְּקַל נִפְרֶכֶת עַל יְדֵי זְרִיקָה מֵעַל יְדֵי גְּלִילָה אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהִיא נִפְרֶכֶת עַל יְדֵי גְּלִילָה אֲזַי הִיא כְּעָפָר וּמֻתָּר לִקְרוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּהּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִתְפָּרְכָה עֲדַיִןו אֲבָל אִם תִּשָּׁבֵר לִשְׁנַיִם עַל יְדֵי גְּלִילָה אֵין זֶה מוֹעִילז וּבִזְמַן הַקֹּר שֶׁהַצּוֹאָה נִקְרֶשֶׁת הַרְבֵּה כָּאֶבֶן יֵשׁ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק אִם מוֹעִיל לִקְרוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּהּ כִּי שֶׁמָּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּקְרֶשֶׁת עֲדַיִן שֵׁם צוֹאָה עָלֶיהָ וְאָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה כְּמוֹ בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ צוֹאָה שֶׁאָסוּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֲדַיִן שְׁמוֹ עָלָיו כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן פ"גח וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן זוֹ שֶׁיְּכוֹלָה לַחֲזֹר לְקַדְמוּתָהּ עַל יְדֵי חֹם וְסָפֵק שֶׁל תּוֹרָה לְהַחֲמִיר:ט
Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch (Kehot Publication Society)
The new layout – with the original text and the facing translation – provides a unique user-friendly approach to studying the Alter Rebbe’s work. An inclusive commentary provides insightful explanations and guidelines for actual practice.
2 If urine that was absorbed in the ground3 will moisten a hand that touches it, it is forbidden to recite [the Shema] in view of it. Some authorities maintain that this is only forbidden when [the ground] is moist enough to enable a hand that has touched it to moisten a dry surface.4 [These authorities maintain that] if [the ground] is not this moist, it is permitted [to recite the Shema there]. One may rely on [the latter] view and rule leniently [since only] a Rabbinic injunction [is involved].
ב מֵי רַגְלַיִם שֶׁנִּבְלְעוּ בַּקַּרְקַע3 אִם הֵם מַרְטִיבִין הַיָּד שֶׁנּוֹגַעַת בָּהֶן אָסוּר לִקְרוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּןי וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִיםיא שֶׁאֵינוֹ אָסוּר אֶלָּא בְּטּוֹפֵחַ עַל מְנָת לְהַטְפִּיחַ4 כְּגוֹן שֶׁאִם מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם תַּעֲלֶה בָּהּ לַחוּת שֶׁאִם יַנִּיחֶנָּה עַל דָּבָר אַחֵר יְקַבֵּל מִמֶּנָּה לַחוּת וְאִם אֵין לַחוּת כָּל כָּךְ מֻתָּר וְיֵשׁ לִסְמֹךְ עַל דִּבְרֵיהֶםיב לְהָקֵל בְּדִבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים:יג
Start a Discussion