Mikvaos, Siman 201 Shiur 4 – 01/15/2019

BS”D

Shiur 4

1- We concluded Seif 4 regarding concerning a Mikvah that a gentile has the key to and can change the water at his own will.

2- We began to learn Seif 5.

סעיף ה

The Mechaber first establishes that all oceans have a Din of a מעין, meaning that they are valid even when flowing.

כל הימים יש להם דין מעיין לטהר בזחילה –

All the seas have the same rule of a spring to purify in zochalin-running water

He then discusses detached waves and states two cases of a wave that detached itself from the ocean.

1- A person (or כלי) is standing on the beach, a wave detaches itself and lands on the ground covering the person.

Image result for tsunami wave

2- A case of toveling inside a wave that is still in the air, prior to landing on the ground:

Case 1- הילכך גל שנתלש מהים ובו ארבעים סאה ונפלו על האדם או על הכלים, עלתה להם טבילה –

Therefore a wave that detaches from the sea and it has 40 seah and it fell on a person or on vessels, their immersion is valid.

Case 2- . אבל אם הטביל בגל כשהוא באויר, קודם שיפול על הארץ

או שזרק כלים באמצעית הגל שהוא עשוי ככיפה אע”פ שיש בו ארבעים סאה לא עלתה להם טבילה

However, if they immersed in a wave that was in the air, before it fell onto the ground   – even though it had in it 40 seah  , – or if one throws vessels into the middle of a wave that is formed as a detached canopy, the immersion is invalid.

Image result for surfer flying

3- We concentrated on Case 1 where it says “Therefore a wave that detaches from the sea and it has 40 seah and it fell on a person or on vessels, their immersion is valid”.

According to all opinions a drop of water from a  מעין is sufficient for כלים to make them טהור.  According to others, even for a person a כל שהוא  of a מעין is sufficient (ט”ז סעיף א).

Visual Concept Graphic Design by Mucu - Pure Water Drop Wallpaper 7

The obvious question then is, why is there a need for this wave to contain 40 seah? If an ocean has the Din of a מעין (and זוחלין is OK, as we see with this wave which is indeed זוחלין) then even less than 40 seah should be sufficient. For כלים at least and according to others, even for a human.  (‘גר”א סעיף א, ו’)

4- We read the text of the ט”ז and the ש”ך and their different answers on the above question.

ט”ז – Although water from a מעין is מטהר בכל שהוא, nevertheless it has to cover the entire body. [meaning that a small person can do with less than 40 seah]. The amount calculated by the חכמים for the average person is 40 seah. Therefore the מחבר chooses to state 40 seah.

ש”ך- The law that a מעין is מטהר בכל שהוא, is only when the water flowing from the מעין is attached to the מעין. A wave, since it is detached, although it has the characteristics of a מעין  in regards to זוחלין , it needs 40 full seah.

Puddle on the Beach Wallpaper

 

5- More on this topic and the Tzemach Tzedek of this YI”H next shiur.

6- Concerning case 2 – Rashi says the reason is because – שלא אמרה תורה מקוה של אויר לטבילה.  A Mikva cannot be in the air.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *