Commentary for Berakhot 49:3
אתמר צואה על בשרו או ידו מונחת בבית הכסא רב הונא אמר מותר לקרות ק"ש רב חסדא אמר אסור לקרות ק"ש אמר רבא מ"ט דרב הונא דכתיב (תהלים קנ, ו) כל הנשמה תהלל יה
It has been reported : If there be filth upon his body, or his hand is placed within a privy, Rab Huna said : It is permitted to read the Shema' ; Rab Hisda said : It is forbidden to read it. Raba asked : What is Rab Huna's reason ? Because it is written, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord" (Ps. el. 6).
Tosafot on Berakhot
HE RULED. Rabainu Chananel ruled as Rav Chisdo says that it is forbidden to recite k’reeas sh’ma even with excrement under his garment on his flesh, and he holds that we follow the verse “all my limbs shall exclaim” (T’hilim 35). For even though Rav Chisdo is a student of Rav Huno, we follow the stringent opinion.
And Rav Alfas ruled like Rav Huno, that we are lenient in this matter when one discovers excrement on his body that was covered while he prayed, because the Gemara challenges Rav Popo from Rav Huno’s opinion in Yoma perek Hamemunoh (30a).1Rav Popo there says that when one has excrement at its source, the anal area, he may not recite sh’ma. The Gemara proceeds to ask why this is any different than Rav Huno’s case when one has excrement on his body under his garment where he rules that he may recite sh’ma. The Gemara is asking its question from Rav Huno who holds that it is permissible to recite sh’ma and seems to be ignoring that Rav Popo is in agreement with Rav Chisdo who holds that it is prohibited. It seems that the Gemara knows that we rule in favor of Rav Huno. However see Rashi there in Yoma 30a, who explains that the Gemara’s question is from both Rav Huno and Rav Chisdo and if so, is no proof that the halochoh is in accordance with Rav Huno. See Shulchan Oruch 76, 4, who rules that initially one should be stringent and avoid praying when there is excrement on his body covered by his clothing, but de facto when one has already prayed and then finds excrement on his body, he can rely on those who say that it is permissible and he need not repeat his prayers. Since the Gemara there uses Rav Huno’s opinion to challenge Rav Popo, it is obvious that the Gemara holds that we rule in favor of Rav Huno. Otherwise, if we ruled like Rav Chisdo, it would present no difficulty to Rav Popo.
And Rav Alfas ruled like Rav Huno, that we are lenient in this matter when one discovers excrement on his body that was covered while he prayed, because the Gemara challenges Rav Popo from Rav Huno’s opinion in Yoma perek Hamemunoh (30a).1Rav Popo there says that when one has excrement at its source, the anal area, he may not recite sh’ma. The Gemara proceeds to ask why this is any different than Rav Huno’s case when one has excrement on his body under his garment where he rules that he may recite sh’ma. The Gemara is asking its question from Rav Huno who holds that it is permissible to recite sh’ma and seems to be ignoring that Rav Popo is in agreement with Rav Chisdo who holds that it is prohibited. It seems that the Gemara knows that we rule in favor of Rav Huno. However see Rashi there in Yoma 30a, who explains that the Gemara’s question is from both Rav Huno and Rav Chisdo and if so, is no proof that the halochoh is in accordance with Rav Huno. See Shulchan Oruch 76, 4, who rules that initially one should be stringent and avoid praying when there is excrement on his body covered by his clothing, but de facto when one has already prayed and then finds excrement on his body, he can rely on those who say that it is permissible and he need not repeat his prayers. Since the Gemara there uses Rav Huno’s opinion to challenge Rav Popo, it is obvious that the Gemara holds that we rule in favor of Rav Huno. Otherwise, if we ruled like Rav Chisdo, it would present no difficulty to Rav Popo.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Through a hole in the wall or fence, his body being outside.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. the organs through which breath is taken, the mouth and nose. So long as these are not in the unclean place, praise may be offered.
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