Rif Brachot 14a

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14a

OR WITH WATER IN WHICH SOMETHING HAS BEEN STEEPED UNTIL HE POURS FRESH WATER INTO IT.
HOW FAR SHOULD HE REMOVE HIMSELF FROM IT {urine} AND FROM EXCREMENT?
FOUR CUBITS.

Gemara:
The Sages learnt {in a brayta}: If one was standing in prayer and he saw excrement by him, he should walk forward such that it is cast behind him 4 cubits.
But we learnt {in a brayta}: {he should move} to the side?!
This is not a question. Here is where it is possible {to go forward} and here is where it is not possible.

One who prayed and {aftwerwards} discovered excrement in his place, since he sinned, even though he prayed, his prayer was not a prayer, but rather he needs to return and pray in a pure place.

If he was standing in prayer and water {urine} drips over his knees, he should wait until it stops, and then return.
To where should he return?
Rav Chisda and Rav Hamnuna:
One said he should return to the beginning, and one said he should return to where he left off.

And Rabbenu Hai Gaon ztz"l wrote that the halacha is like the one who said that he returns to where he left off, and if he paused for the length of time it would take to finish it {the prayer} in its entirety, he returns to the beginning.

We learn in megilla in perek benei haIr {27b}:
They learnt before Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak: One who has prayed {and needs to urinate} needs to distance himself 4 cubits and urinate. One who has urinated needs to distance himself 4 cubits in order to pray.
Rav Nachman said: It is good {makes sense} that one who has urinated needs to distance himself 4 cubits, for we have learnt in the Mishna: "HOW FAR SHOULD HE REMOVE HIMSELF FROM IT {urine} AND FROM EXCREMENT? FOUR CUBITS."
But one who prays must distance himself 4 cubits in order to urinate? If so they will have sanctified every path in Nehardeah!
They learnt: He should wait.
That is to say, this that they learnt "he should distance" means "he should wait"
And we said: it is fine that if he urinates he should wait the amount of time it takes to walk 4 cubits, because of the splatter. But if he prays he should wait the amount of time it takes to walk 4 cubits? For what cause? Rav said: For until 4 cubits a man's prayers are still ordered for him in his mouth and his lips are still whispering.


{Brachot 23a}
The Sages learnt {in a brayta}: If one needs to use use the facilities he should not pray, and if he prays his prayer is an abomination.
Rav Zvid said, and some say Rav Yehuda said: they only spoke of the case where one cannot contain himself, but if he can contain himself it is permitted.
And until home much {must he be able to contain himself}?
Rav Sheshet said: Until a parsa.

Another brayta says {in our gemara we have this as R Shmuel bar Nachmeni citing Rabbi Yochanan}: One who needs to use the facilities should not pray, for it states in Amos 4:11:

יב לָכֵן, כֹּה אֶעֱשֶׂה-לְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל: עֵקֶב כִּי-זֹאת אֶעֱשֶׂה-לָּךְ, הִכּוֹן לִקְרַאת-אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

and it states in Kohelet 4:17:

יז שְׁמֹר רגליך (רַגְלְךָ), כַּאֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ אֶל-בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים, וְקָרוֹב לִשְׁמֹעַ, מִתֵּת הַכְּסִילִים זָבַח: כִּי-אֵינָם יוֹדְעִים, לַעֲשׂוֹת רָע.

17 Guard thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be ready to hearken: it is better than when fools give sacrifices; for they know not that they do evil.

And Rav Assi, and some say Rav Chanina bar Papa said: Guard your orifices {=nekavecha, an interpretation of raglecha} at the time you stand in prayer before Hashem.

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We learn in perek elu hen Halokin {Makkot 16b}:
Rav Achai said: One who delays his bodily functions violates (Vayikra 20:25) Bal Teshaketzu (You shall not make yourselves detestable):

כה וְהִבְדַּלְתֶּם בֵּין-הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהֹרָה, לַטְּמֵאָה, וּבֵין-הָעוֹף הַטָּמֵא, לַטָּהֹר; וְלֹא-תְשַׁקְּצוּ אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם בַּבְּהֵמָה וּבָעוֹף, וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר תִּרְמֹשׂ הָאֲדָמָה, אֲשֶׁר-הִבְדַּלְתִּי לָכֶם, לְטַמֵּא.

25 Ye shall therefore separate between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean; and ye shall not make your souls detestable by beast, or by fowl, or by any thing wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean.

Rav Bibi bar Abaye said: One who drinks from the karna deUmana {vessel they use for bloodletting} violates Bal Teshaketzu.

{Brachot 23a continues}
It was asked: May one enter a permanent privy {toilet} while wearing tefillin and urinate? Do we fear lest he empty {his bowels} or lest he pass wind, or not?
Ravina permitted, and Rav Ada bar Matna forbad.
They came and asked Rava, and he said: it is forbidden, as a decree lest he empty {his bowels} or lest he pass wind. {our gemara has "some say" between the two possibilities.}

The Sages learnt {in a brayta}: one who enters a privy should remove his tefillin at a distance of 4 cubits and enter, and when he leaves, he should distance himself 4 cubits and don them. These are the words of Bet Shammai. And Bet Hillel say: he grabs them in his hand and enters. Rabbi Akiva says: He grabs them in his garment and enters.
A garment, do you think? Perhaps they mat slip out and fall!
Rather say: he grabs them in his garment and his hand, and he enters.

And he should not place it in the holes which are close