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Siman ע״ז · Reciting the ק״ש facing urine

דין שלא לקרות כנגד מי רגלים — it is forbidden to recite the ק״ש facing urine (מי רגליים) until one pours a רביעית of water into it — then it is permitted; on the ground or in a vessel, no difference, save an עביט המיוחד; a רביעית per urination (וכן לעולם)
סימן ע״ז · ב׳ סעיפים
דין שלא לקרות כנגד מי רגלים
🌱 Introductory level · Beginners
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This siman teaches that it is forbidden to recite the ק״ש (and any דבר שבקדושה) facing urine (מי רגליים): until one pours a רביעית of water into it — ואז מותר; it makes no difference whether על גבי קרקע (on the ground) or בכלי (in a vessel), save an עביט המיוחד (designated pot); and the שיעור is proportional to the number of urinations. Hebrew text, fluent English translation and explanation of the ב׳ seifim, with a section of practical cases.

Topic: Reciting the ק״ש facing urine — רביעית מים, עביט המיוחד, the שיעור per number of urinations
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן ע״ז · ב׳ סעיפים

Compiled by: רב יוסף חיים סממה
DAAT · daattorah.com

The Mechaber rules (שולחן ערוך אורח חיים ע״ז:א): אסור לקרות כנגד מי רגלים עד שיטיל לתוכן רביעית מים ואז מותר — it is forbidden to recite the ק״ש facing urine until one pours a רביעית of water into it, and then it is permitted. The siman adds that this applies on the ground and in a vessel alike, save the designated pot (עביט), and fixes the amount of water to be poured. We study here at the level of principle; for personal conduct, one refers to the custom and to the ruling of the Rav.

📑 Study outline

A. The ב׳ seifim — מי רגליים and רביעית מים (séif 1), שיעור הרביעית per number of urinations (séif 2)
1. Practical case — pouring a רביעית of water onto the urine: what is permitted
2. Practical case — the designated chamber pot (עביט המיוחד)
3. Practical case — several urinations: how many רביעיות
+ Comprehension questions and going further

A. Reciting the ק״ש facing urine — the ב׳ seifim

מֵי רַגְלַיִם — urine — just as one does not recite the ק״ש facing excrement (סי׳ ע״ו), one does not recite it facing uncovered urine. The novelty of the siman: urine, unlike excrement, can be rendered permitted by pouring a רביעית of water into it — עד שיטיל לתוכן רביעית מים ואז מותר. From this follow three details: the ground or the vessel (no difference), the exception of the עביט המיוחד (designated pot), and the amount of water proportional to the number of urinations.

Séif 1 — מי רגליים: urine and the רביעית of water

אסור לקרות כנגד מי רגלים עד שיטיל לתוכן רביעית מים, ואז מותר; ולא שנא על גבי קרקע לא שנא בכלי, ובלבד שלא יהא עביט המיוחד להם [ודין עביט עיין לקמן סימן פ״ז]; לא שנא היו הם בכלי תחילה וניתן עליהם מים, לא שנא המים בכלי תחילה.
Séif 1: it is forbidden to recite (the ק״ש) facing urine (מי רגלים) until one pours a רביעית of water into it — and then it is permitted; and it makes no difference whether on the ground (על גבי קרקע) or in a vessel (בכלי), provided it is not a chamber pot specially designated for urine (עביט המיוחד להם) [for the law of the עביט see below סימן פ״ז]; it makes no difference whether the urine was in the vessel first and water was poured onto it, or the water was in the vessel first.
Two points. 1) Uncovered urine bars the ק״ש, but it can be rendered permitted by pouring a רביעית of water into it — this applies on the ground and in a vessel alike, and regardless of the order (water first or urine first). 2) Exception: the עביט המיוחד, the vessel specially set aside for urine; pouring water does not suffice for it (its law is developed in סימן פ״ז).

Séif 2 — שיעור הרביעית: the amount of water

רביעית שאמרו למי רגלים של פעם אחת, ולשל שני פעמים שני רביעיות, ולשל שלש שלשה. הגה: וכן לעולם.
Séif 2: the רביעית they spoke of is for the urine of a single urination; for that of two urinations, two רביעיות; and for that of three, three. Rama: וכן לעולם — and so on, in proportion.
The required רביעית is not a fixed figure: it is a proportion. For the urine of one urination, one רביעית; for two urinations, two רביעיות; for three, three — and the Rama adds וכן לעולם, so it always is. The measure thus follows the quantity of urine to be nullified.
The siman in one sentence: it is forbidden to recite the ק״ש facing urine until one pours a רביעית of water into it, and then it is permitted; on the ground and in a vessel alike, in any order, save the עביט המיוחד (designated pot); and the רביעית is proportional: one per urination, two for two urinations, וכן לעולם.

Practical cases

Case 1 — Pouring a רביעית of water onto the urine

Situation: there is uncovered urine (ground or vessel) where he wishes to recite the ק״ש. What to do?
Conduct: as long as he has done nothing, it is forbidden to recite facing it; but by pouring a רביעית of water into it, it becomes permitted — על גבי קרקע as בכלי, and in any order (water first or urine first). For the practical application (the exact measure of the רביעית, absorbed urine), one follows one's Rav.

Case 2 — The designated chamber pot (עביט המיוחד)

Situation: the urine is in a pot specially set aside for it (עביט). Does pouring water suffice?
Conduct: the עביט המיוחד להם is an exception: a vessel dedicated to urine, and pouring water does not render it fit; it is forbidden even when emptied. The Mechaber refers for its law to סימן פ״ז. For the details, one follows one's Rav.

Case 3 — Several urinations

Situation: the urine is from two or three urinations. Does a single רביעית suffice?
Conduct: the רביעית is proportional. For one urination, one רביעית; for two, two רביעיות; for three, three — and וכן לעולם (and so on). One therefore pours as many רביעיות as the quantity of urine requires. For the practical estimate, one follows one's Rav.

Comprehension questions

Check your understanding:
  1. What must be done in order to recite the ק״ש facing urine, according to séif 1?
  2. Is there a difference between urine on the ground and urine in a vessel? And the order (water or urine first)?
  3. What is the עביט המיוחד and why does pouring water not suffice for it (séif 1)?
  4. How many רביעיות are needed for the urine of two urinations, and why (séif 2)?
  5. What does « וכן לעולם », added by the Rama, mean?

Going further

If you wish to deepen this siman:
Continue to the next simanSiman 78 →
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DAAT · רב יוסף חיים סממה

סימן ע״ז · ב׳ סעיפים · Level 1 — Introduction
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