פירוש על ברכות 49:7
Tosafot on Berakhot
THE HALAKHA IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS BARAITA IN ALL OF THESE RULINGS, [BUT] RATHER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT WHICH WAS TAUGHT ETC. The Gemara introduced a Braiso to prove that Rav Chisdo is correct, that one must distance himself four cubits from where the foul odor of the excrement dissipates and only then is he permitted to recite sh’ma. In that Braiso, it also mentions that these prohibitions are in effect for the excrement of pigs and dogs as well. Rovo argues that the halachoho is not in accordance with this Braiso on the issue of excrement of pigs and dogs, rather we follow a second Braiso that says that the excrement of pigs and dogs is a problem only when they are being used in the tanning process. Then the odor is extremely foul, but ordinarily they do not present a problem.
Rashi explained that the halochoh is not in accordance with this Braiso that we learned earlier that prohibits reciting sh’ma in the presence of excrement of dogs and pigs even when they are not being used in the process of tanning hides. However, this differentiation does not apply to human excrement, and it is prohibited to recite sh’ma in the presence of human excrement in any case.1Rashi says that it is quite unusual to use human excrement in the processing of hides and it is therefore unlikely that the Braiso would mention that human excrement is a problem only when used for tannin hides.
Tosfos now analyzes what the Braiso did not mention. It appears that Rovo is not discussing excrement of chickens and in the second Braiso we do not have the text, excrement of chickens at all. And the second Braiso does not argue about this, excrement of chickens with the earlier Braiso that did mention excrement of chickens. And according to this, it is mentioned in the first Braiso that one may not recite sh’ma in the presence of excrement of chickens and not at all in the second Braiso, it should be prohibited to recite sh’ma in the presence of chicken excrement.
Rabainu Yehudoh qualifies Tosfos conclusion. And Rabainu Yehudoh says that only when they are in their coop where there is a huge stench is it forbidden to recite sh’ma, but as far as the chickens that walk2See Rosh Simon 45 whose text is בבית הגדלים. This translates as chickens that are raised in a house. They do not have a great stench, but those that are raised in a coop may have a great stench even when walking in a house. in the houses the stench of their excrement is not as foul and we need not be concerned and we are permitted to recite sh’ma in the presence of that excrement.
And in Yerushalmee it says that we need only be concerned with chickens that are edomim, and we do not know the explanation of edomim. Some say that it translates as red, and that red chickens have a stronger stench. Others say that edomim refers to the land of Edom where there is a massive amount of barley that causes a very foul odor in the chicken excrement. Tosfos was uncertain of the explanation. And it further says in Yerushalmee that we must distance ourselves from the excrement of animals when reciting sh’ma. R’ Yishmoel son of R’ Yitzchok says, but only the excrement of a donkey and not other animals.3For further clarification, see Shulcha Oruch 79, 5.
Rashi explained that the halochoh is not in accordance with this Braiso that we learned earlier that prohibits reciting sh’ma in the presence of excrement of dogs and pigs even when they are not being used in the process of tanning hides. However, this differentiation does not apply to human excrement, and it is prohibited to recite sh’ma in the presence of human excrement in any case.1Rashi says that it is quite unusual to use human excrement in the processing of hides and it is therefore unlikely that the Braiso would mention that human excrement is a problem only when used for tannin hides.
Tosfos now analyzes what the Braiso did not mention. It appears that Rovo is not discussing excrement of chickens and in the second Braiso we do not have the text, excrement of chickens at all. And the second Braiso does not argue about this, excrement of chickens with the earlier Braiso that did mention excrement of chickens. And according to this, it is mentioned in the first Braiso that one may not recite sh’ma in the presence of excrement of chickens and not at all in the second Braiso, it should be prohibited to recite sh’ma in the presence of chicken excrement.
Rabainu Yehudoh qualifies Tosfos conclusion. And Rabainu Yehudoh says that only when they are in their coop where there is a huge stench is it forbidden to recite sh’ma, but as far as the chickens that walk2See Rosh Simon 45 whose text is בבית הגדלים. This translates as chickens that are raised in a house. They do not have a great stench, but those that are raised in a coop may have a great stench even when walking in a house. in the houses the stench of their excrement is not as foul and we need not be concerned and we are permitted to recite sh’ma in the presence of that excrement.
And in Yerushalmee it says that we need only be concerned with chickens that are edomim, and we do not know the explanation of edomim. Some say that it translates as red, and that red chickens have a stronger stench. Others say that edomim refers to the land of Edom where there is a massive amount of barley that causes a very foul odor in the chicken excrement. Tosfos was uncertain of the explanation. And it further says in Yerushalmee that we must distance ourselves from the excrement of animals when reciting sh’ma. R’ Yishmoel son of R’ Yitzchok says, but only the excrement of a donkey and not other animals.3For further clarification, see Shulcha Oruch 79, 5.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Under any circumstances.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The excrement of these animals was used for cleaning purposes; cf. T. A.I. p. 154 and p. 574 n. 346.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy