Berachos 25a

ברכות כ״ה ע״א

Berakhot 25a

Learn Berachos 25a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 25a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Saying קריאת שמע and holy words near filth, bad smells, and urine: distances, doubts, and how dry is dry enough

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a rule: for תפלה a person must cover his heart. רב הונא then rules that someone who walked into a בית הכסא wearing תפילין covers them with his hand until the first mass is out, since holding back is dangerous. Next, רב הונא and רב חסדא argue about saying קריאת שמע when part of the body is not clean, and then about how far to move from a bad smell. A ברייתא supports רב חסדא, but רבא rules like a different, shorter list of forbidden filth. רב ששת teaches that a smell with no visible source does not stop תורה learning, but it does stop קריאת שמע. אביי and רבא argue about filth that is passing by, and רב פפא says a pig's mouth counts as passing filth. רב יהודה rules on cases of doubt: a doubt about feces is strict, while a doubt about urine is lenient, because urine on the ground is only forbidden by the רבנן. The גמרא then asks how dry feces and urine must be before they stop forbidding holy words. רבא rules that feces as dry as earthenware is still forbidden, and urine forbids only while it is wet. The amud ends by testing that ruling against two ברייתות.

Opening lines

The steps (46)

1. StatementFor prayer, the heart must be covered
2. StatementEntering a bathroom while wearing תפילין by mistake
3. ChallengeCan he really stay until he is completely done?
4. ResolutionOnly until the first mass
5. ChallengeWhy not stop right away?
6. ResolutionHolding it in is dangerous
7. StatementA dispute: saying שמע when part of the body is not clean
8. Proofרב הונא's source: every soul praises
9. Proofרב חסדא's source: all my bones praise
10. StatementHow far to move from a bad smell that has a source
11. ProofA ברייתא that supports רב חסדא
12. Statementרבא rules like a different, more lenient ברייתא
13. QuestionWhat about a bad smell with no source
14. Responseרב ששת points to the mats in the בית מדרש
15. ConclusionThe answer only covers תורה learning and someone else's smell
16. Statementאביי and רבא argue about filth that is passing by
17. Proofאביי brings a proof from a מצורע under a tree
18. Rejectionרבא explains why the מצורע case is different
19. Statementרב פפא: a pig's mouth is like passing filth
20. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
21. ResolutionEven right after the pig comes out of the river
22. StatementDoubtful feces is forbidden, doubtful urine is permitted
23. StatementSecond version of רב יהודה's ruling: house versus garbage heap
24. ProofSource for the urine leniency: רב המנונא
25. Challengeרבי יונתן points out two פסוקים that seem to contradict
26. ResolutionOne פסוק is about feces, the other about urine
27. ConclusionUrine on the ground is only rabbinic, so a doubt is permitted
28. QuestionHow long does certain urine stay forbidden?
29. ResponseThree אמוראים: as long as it is still wet
30. Statementגניבא quotes רב: as long as its mark can be seen
31. Challengeרב יוסף: רב could not have said this
32. Rejectionאביי: רב also has a strict statement about feces
33. QuestionWhat counts as feces 'like earthenware'?
34. ResponseThe test: it does not crumble when thrown or rolled
35. Statementרבינא's story: checking whether feces had dried
36. QuestionWhat is the final ruling?
37. ResponseDispute about feces dry like earthenware
38. Conclusionרבא's ruling on dry feces and on urine
39. ChallengeA ברייתא suggests a visible urine mark still forbids
40. RejectionThe opening clause of the ברייתא points the other way
41. ConclusionNo proof can be drawn from this ברייתא
42. StatementSuggesting the question is a dispute between תנאים
43. QuestionWhat do 'soaked in' and 'did not soak in' mean?
44. RejectionIf 'soaked in' means 'no longer wet,' there is no dispute
45. Response'Soaked in' means no mark is left, so they disagree about a visible mark
46. RejectionMaybe everyone agrees a visible mark is permitted