Tefisat Yedey Adam

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Background

  1. If a person draws water into a mikveh, even if they do not use a vessel at all or use a vessel with a hole in it,[1] the water is invalid because of tefisat yadey adam or "human involvement." This is because the water is considered to be sheuvim, or "drawn water," which is not considered to be pure for ritual purposes.[2]
  2. Whether this is biblical[3] or rabbinic depends on the dispute of whether drawn water in a vessel is biblical or rabbinic.[4] A person’s actions to move the water makes it considered sheuvim even if the water isn't collected in any vessel.[5]

Why is Tefisat Yadey Adam invalid?

  • The Raavad Baalei Hanefesh p. 116 (Bookwald 3:4 p. 147) quotes an opinion who explains that water drawn by a person is a form of sheuvim. He explains that in the Torah it never says that drawn water is invalid if it is placed in a vessel, it is invalid anytime it isn’t natural like a spring, whether the water is drawn with a vessel or by a person. From the last versions of Raavad it is clear that originally he treated the water completely like sheuvim that invalidate a mikveh with 3 lugin. However, in his conclusion he held that it is only invalid if majority of the mikveh is from this water, and it isn't completely like sheuvim. The Rash (Mikvaot 2:6) writes that the water a person draws is like sheuvim. Rashba (Torat Habayit Shaar Hamayim 5, p. 494, Teshuvot Meyuchasot Lramban 231), Rosh (Mikvaot 2:6), Rambam (Pirush Mishnayot 2:6), Trumat Hadeshen 254, and Bet Yosef 201:15(4) agree that tefisat yedey adam makes the water sheuvim. The translation of the Rambam in the Mechon Hameor edition of Rambam p. 564 fnt. 15 this point is even clearer. This is also the opinon of Mishnah Achronah 2:6, Tiferet Yisrael (Boaz 2:5), Aruch Hashulchan 201:120, Chelkat Binyamin 201:270, and Chazon Ish YD 130:9 explaining the Ramban, Rash, Rosh, and Rashba.
  • The Raavad himself says he doesn't think it is sheuvim, but nonetheless invalid if you have intention to draw the water into the mikveh. Rabbi Akiva Eiger (Bookwald edition p. 149) thinks this is a deoritta invalidation, while the fuller text seems to indicate that is only rabbinic (p. 149 fnt. 18).
  • Zichron Yosef YD 13 explains that water that is drawn by a person is considered havaya al yadey dvar hamekabel tumah since a person is mekabel tumah. The invalidation is a derivation in Zevachim 25b. He explains that it is considered havaya al yadey dvar hamekabel tumah even if you’re not touching the water. His proof is that the Rosh Mikvaot 5:5 codified by Shulchan Aruch 201:48 writes that a person holding a board on which the water flows into the mikveh is havaya al yadey dvar hamekabel tumah. Taz 201:58 agrees that a person is mekabel tumah and would create this invalidation. This is evident in Mishna Parah 6:4. However, according to the rishonim and achronim above this isn't the only invalidation of tefisat yedey adam.
    • Yet, according to the Rambam (Mikvaot 6:2 as pointed out by the Bet Yosef YD 201:48) this invalidation of havaya al yedey dvar hamekabel tumah is only true for mayim chayim and not a mikveh.
    • Also, according to the Rambam (Hilchot Mikvaot 5:8) and Rash (Mikvaot 2:8, Bet Yosef 201:15(4),39, Taz 201:28) this invalidation of tefisat yedey adam can apply to animals as well (since it isn't beyedey shamayim) even though they aren't mekabel tumah.
  • The Rashba (Shaar Hamayim ch. 5 36a) writes that it isn’t because of sheuvim but it is another invalidation. He doesn’t explain further.
  • Taz 201:28 explains that Raavad holds it is another invalidation and not sheuvim. However, he understands that Rashba, Rosh, and Tur hold that it is a pasul of sheuvim.

Proofs

Proofs that it is a problem

  • The Mishna Mikvaot 2:6 establishes that drawing mud with water out of the mikveh invalidates the water. That is because of tefisat yad adam.
  • The Tosefta Mikvaot 3:2 quotes Rabbi Yosi who says that water that is sprinkled by a person into a mikveh is invalid. That is because of tefisat yad adam.
  • The Tosefta Mikvaot 3:2 writes that if someone squeezes 3 lugin of water out of his hair into the mikveh, the mikveh is invalid. Raavad 3:4 quotes this as a proof for tefisat yad adam.

Proofs that it isn't an issue

  • The Mishna Mikvaot 2:7-9 says that it is permitted to turn over a kli that has non-sheuvim water in it to go into the mikveh. Why isn't that tefisat yad adam? Maharam Shik 196 presents three answers to this question:
    • Rash (Mikvaot 2:7) says that it is hamshacha, which only according to the opinion that hamshacha works for a mikveh that's completely sheuvim.
    • Rambam (as understood by Maharam Shik YD 196) would answer that tefisat yad adam is only a problem if it comes directly from a person's hand and not if it comes from his koach (movement).
    • Chazon Ish (Mikvaot Tinyana 3:17) answers that tefisat yad adam is only a problem if he picks up the water and then pours it into the mikveh but not if he just pushes water into the mikveh. Similarly, pushing a kli over so that its water spills into the mikveh isn't tefisat yad adam. Igrot Moshe YD 1:120:5 agrees.
  • The Mishna Mikvaot 5:5 discusses a person having water run over his hand into a mikveh and only raises the issue of havaya al yedey dvar hamekabel tumah. Why isn't that tefisat yad adam?
    • Chazon Ish (Mikvaot Tinyana 3:17) answers that tefisat yad adam is only a problem if he picks up the water and then pours it into the mikveh but not if he just aids water to flow into the mikveh.
  • The Mishna Mikvaot 6:3 allows three people to be tovel in three pits whose water join together because of the water displacement of the three people. Why isn't that tefisat yad adam?
    • Maharam Shik YD 196 answers that tefisat yad adam is only a problem if it comes directly from a person's hand and not if it come from his koach.
  • The Mishna Mikvaot 7:7 allows pushing water from inside a mikveh onto a stair upon which is a needle in order to purify the needle. Why isn't that tefisat yad adam?
    • Tosfot Yom Tov answers that the water is always attached to the mikveh so it doesn't become invalidated because of tefisat yad adam. Even though Tosfot Yom Tov writes this with respect to the question of havaya al yedey dvar hamekabel tumah, Ben Ish Chai (Hod Yosef 71) writes this directly about tefisat yad adam. Shach 201:123 rejects this answer because Rosh allows pushing water onto the stair to purify the needle even if the water detaches from the mikveh as long as there's 40 seah in the water that detached.
    • Maharam Shik YD 196 answers that tefisat yad adam is only a problem if it comes directly from a person's hand and not if it come from his koach.
  • The Tosefta Mikvaot 3:2 writes that if a person has 3 lugin of water in his hair and he goes into an incomplete mikveh, the mikveh is valid. Why isn't that tefisat yad adam?
    • Rash (Mikvaot 2:6) answers that the mikveh is complete with 40 seah when the water from his hair went in. Therefore, the mikveh remains kosher.
    • According to Raavad 3:4, who holds that water that is moved by a person unintentionally isn't considered tefisat yad adam, this Tosefta can be explained that the water was there unintentionally.
  • The Tosefta Mikvaot 3:3 establishes that if an army walks through puddles and cause water to splash into a pit and create a mikveh it is valid. Why isn't that al yedey adam?
    • Rosh (Hilchot Mikvaot n. 2) understands that the Tosefta is only discussing animals splashing the water and not people. There's no issue of tefisat yad adam with animals according to Rosh.
    • Rash (Mikvaot 2:9) understands that there's hamshacha of the water that splashed onto ground before it fell into the mikveh. Bet Yosef 201:39 writes that this only accords with the opinion that hamshacha works for a complete mikveh.
    • Raavad (Baalei Hanefesh 3:4, Buchwald edition p. 150) understands that there's no tefisat yad adam since the was collected unintentionally.
    • Rambam (Hilchot Mikvaot 5:8 based on Kesef Mishna, as explained by Maharam Shik YD 196) explains that there's no tefisat yad adam since the water wasn't squeezed directly into the mikveh. It was just pushed or splashed into the mikveh. There's no issue of tefisat yad adam because of the movement of a person.

Creating a Mikveh by Drawing Water

  1. Drawing water into a mikveh using a vessel that isn’t susceptible to tumah is nonetheless tefisat yadey adam and invalid.[6]

Unintentional and Non-Beneficial

  1. Some rishonim hold that water drawn by a person is valid if it is unintentionally drawn into the mikveh.[7] However, the halacha is that it is invalid.[8]
  2. If you are trying to carry the water out of the mikveh and some of it spills back into the mikveh it isn’t considered tefisat yadey adam since it is non-beneficial to have that water spill back into the mikveh.[9]

Connected to the Mikveh

  1. If a person moves water that is connected to the mikveh isn’t considered tefisat yadey adam.[10]
  2. Some achronim hold that if it is connected to the mikveh through a stream that is pour or flowing it is connected and not tefisat yadey adam.[11] However, others disagree.[12]

Kocho and Grama

  1. Some achronim think that some rishonim hold anything which doesn't come from a person's hand directly isn't tefisat yad adam, even though it comes because of his movement.[13] However, the halacha is that water that comes because of a person's movement is called tefisat yad adam and is invalid.[14]
  2. Many achronim hold that removing a spigot or something else that was preventing the water from entering the mikveh isn't considered tefisat yad adam and is not sheuvim or havaya al yedey dvar hamekabel tumah.[15]
  3. Using certain types of pumps where the water doesn't come immediately is considered grama and not tefisat yadey adam.[16] Also, even if the water comes immediately once the first gush of water is tefisat yad adam and the rest is considered grama.[17]
  4. A pump powered by wind or water to pump water into a mikveh isn't tefisat yad adam after the first gush of water.[18]
  5. An electric pump according to many poskim is considered tefisat yad adam.[19]
  6. Melting ice with hot metal boards isn’t an issue of tefisat yadey adam since it is grama.[20]
  7. If the water was drawn into a mikveh using an indirect or delayed reaction according to some poskim it is valid as it wasn’t drawn by a person directly.[21]

Ice Machine

  1. Having a machine make ice, according to some poskim, is considered tefisat yadey adam.[22]

Hamshacha

  1. Drawn water by a person into a mikveh is invalid but if it is drawn along the ground it is valid. Some say that it is valid even if the entire 40 seah is drawn by a person along the ground,[23] while others say it is only valid if the majority of the mikveh wasn’t drawn by a person at all. We are strict.[24]

Sources

  1. ↑ The poskim and Shulchan Aruch equate this invalidation of water that came because of human force if it was poured from a person's hands or hair and if a person poured the water from a bucket that has a hole in it. However, it is possible to distinguish between them and only invalidate human force when the water directly comes from the person's body, such as his hands or hair, but not if he's holding a kli that doesn't make sheuvim. Such a possibility is possible to infer from Rosh (Teshuvot Nosafot 55*) who writes he isn't confident to permit drawing water with a bucket that has a hole in it to create a mikveh initially. He implies that he didn't think human force of holding the bucket with a hole isn't a clear reason to assume that the water is invalid. However, if the water directly comes from his water it is invalid as he writes in his Pesakim (Mikvaot n. 2). This is also implied by Maharam Lublin 60 who writes that it is inappropriate to drawn water with a bucket with a hole in it to create a mikveh. He doesn't write that it is completely invalid. Either way, the halacha is that it is invalid as the poskim on seif 40 write.
  2. ↑ Raavad Baalei Hanefesh p. 116 writes that a person drawing water into the mikveh even without a vessel is considered sheuvim. He says that it is derived from the concept that a mikveh is compared to a spring and just like a spring needs to be natural, so too a mikveh needs to be natural and not artificial. His proofs include:
    • Tosefta Mikvaot 4:4 regarding wringing out hair and carrying water with one’s feet,
    • and Mishna Mikvaot 3:3 and 7:6 regarding wringing out clothing.
    • Rashba (Meyuchasot LRamban 231) and Rosh Mikvaot n. 2 agree with Raavad. This concept is codified in Shulchan Aruch YD 201:15.
  3. ↑ The Torat Kohanim (Shemini 9:1) learns that just like a spring is natural so too a mikveh needs to be natural and if there’s tefisat yadey adam it is invalid.
  4. ↑ Chelkat Binyamin 201:15 s.v. ubikar and 201:248 writes that according to most rishonim the rules of tefisat yedey adam is identical with sheuvim, even though the Raavad makes some distinctions. Raavad (cited by Ramban and Rashba b"b 66b) understands that tefisat yedey adam is a biblical invalidation, but shevuim is only derabbanan. However, the other rishonim who discussing this Torat Kohanim did not invoke tefisat yedey adam to understand it. Rather they understood it because of sheuvim or havaya al yedey dvar hamekabel tumah. Chazon Ish Mikvaot Tinyana 3:17 writes that havaya al yedey adam is only derabbanan. He does not explain why this is true if sheuvim is deoritta.
  5. ↑
    • The Mishna Mikvaot 3:3 establishes that if a person wrings out a cloth into the mikveh it is invalid. The Rambam Hilchot Mikvaot 5:2 codifies this but adds that it only applies if one first picked up the cloth out of the mikveh but if it is still partially in the mikveh water that comes out of it isn’t an issue.
    • Tosefta Mikvaot 4:4 writes that if one has 3 lug of water in one’s hair and squeezes them out into a mikveh it is invalid. Rosh Hilchot Mikvaot no. explains that squeezing out water wasn’t originally drawn water but it is considered drawn water since it involves a human action to squeeze it into the mikveh.
    • Ramban responsa 231 citing the Raavad agrees that anything which comes from a person’s actions is considered drawn water. Even though one’s hair is certainly not a vessel the water squeeze out of it is invalid since it was drawn by a person into the mikveh.
  6. ↑ Rashba (Meyuchasot 231) quotes the Raavad as holding that tefisat yadey adam is an issue even with a vessel that is punctured and doesn’t hold water. Shach 201:46 and Taz 201:27 agree. However, the Meiri Mikvaot 7:3 quotes some rishonim who hold that tefisat yadey adam doesn’t apply with drawing water with a punctured vessel. The Meiri writes that this approach is incorrect because of the Mishna Mikvaot 2:6. Zichron Yosef YD 13 is also strict.
  7. ↑ Raavad (Baalei Hanefesh 3:4, in the version of Rabbi Buchwald p. 150) writes explicitly that water drawn by a person unintentionally doesn’t invalidate the mikveh. The proof for Raavad is Tosefta (Mikvaot 3:3) that the mikveh filled up by the army is kosher. Rash (in ktav yad Mikvaot 2:9) agrees with Raavad. Chelkat Binyamin on seif 15 quotes Chazon Ish in understanding Rambam agrees that drawn by a person unintentionally is kosher.
  8. ↑ Rashba (Shaar Hamayim 5) holds that if the water is brought there by the actions of a person it is invalid even if it is unintentional. Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 201:39 codifies this opinion. The reason the water that is drawn by a person's foot is valid is because of hamshacha. This implies that it is invalid even though it is unintentional. Shach 201:46 and Taz 21:27 are both strict on water that a person unintentionally drew into a mikveh unlike the Bach 201:21 who is lenient. Chelkat Binyamin 201:250 is strict. Rosh Mikvaot n. 2 implies that he agrees with Rashba since he understands that a mikveh made by water splashing from animals is kosher but not for people, even though splashing the water only drew the water unintentionally.
  9. ↑ Shach 201:46 writes that since the water spilling back into the mikveh isn’t beneficial and isn’t considered tefisat yadey adam. Lechem Vsimla (Simla 201:70) explains the Shach to mean that it is negative that the water is spilling back. The Lechem Vsimla asks on the Shach and Chazon Ish YD 130:11 disagrees with Shach. Rashba (Shaar Hamayim 5) seems to be strict about this that even using a kli that has a hole to clean out a mikveh is considered tefisat yad adam. Shach is based on Shulchan Aruch who allowed that practice.
  10. ↑ Rambam (Pirush Mishnayot Mikvaot 2:6) and Rosh (Mikvaot 2:6), Taz 201:47
  11. ↑ Taz 201:47, Rabbi Akiva Eiger (Derush Vchiddush Ketavim)
  12. ↑ Maharam Shik YD 196
  13. ↑ Maharam Shik YD 196 proves this from Rambam, but shows that it isn't the opinion of Rosh, Rashba, Raavad, Tur, and Shulchan Aruch.
  14. ↑ Shach 201:46, Rabbi Akiva Eiger (Drush Vechiddush Ketavim), Ben Ish Chai (Hod Yosef 71), Chazon Ish (Mikvaot Tinyana 3:17)
  15. ↑ Chatom Sofer YD 214 s.v. umay, Maharash Engel 1:52, Chazon Ish (Mikvaot Tinyana 3:17), Taharat Mayim siman 24 quoting Darkei Teshuva 195, and Emek Sheylah YD 48, 57. Chatom Sofer says it is grama. Chazon Ish says it isn't an issue because he didn't pick up the water.
  16. ↑ Rabbi Akiva Eiger (Derush Vchidush Ketamim) writes that water pumped up by a person isn’t considered tefisat yadey adam since at the time of when one pulls up the pump nothing happens to the water directly. He calls it grama. This is quoted by the Lechem Vsimla (210:145) and Divrei Yosef p. 147-8. Zichron Yosef YD 13 is lenient regarding using a pump since it is a koach kocho which isn’t considered like a maaseh of a person.
  17. ↑ Taharat Mayim siman 24 quotes this from the Aruch Hashulchan 201:75.
  18. ↑ Chazon Ish Mikvaot Tinyana 3:17 writes that the water comes with koach rishon is considered coming because of a person, but water that comes with koach sheni (water that wouldn't come if the pump was opened and closed immediately) is grama. Ben Ish Chai (Hod Yosef 71) quotes Dvar Moshe 24 who writes that koach kocho is not an issue for tefisat yad adam. His proof is from a person riding an animal isn't tefisat yad adam (Tosefta 3:3). The reason is that the water moving is koach kocho of the rider. Maharam Shik 196 brings the same proof. However, Ben Ish Chai rejects the proof because animals walk on their own, so the animal moving isn't because of a person.
  19. ↑ Har Tzvi 177 writes that an electric pump is tefisat yad adam as long as it is pumping and is not grama at all. See Minchat Yitzchak 1:146:16 who writes that using electricity to move water isn't such an issue of tefisat yad adam. Note, that he didn't write this to rule leniently on the issue.
  20. ↑ Maharsham 1:200 writes that melting ice with hot metal boards isn’t tefisat yadey adam since it is a grama. Chatom Sofer 1:200, Maharam Shik 196, and Nachal Eshkol 53 agree.
  21. ↑ See discussion of pump above. Rabbi Akiva Eiger in Drush Vchidush cited by Lechem Vsimla 201:145 and Divrei Yosef p. 147 held that grama doesn’t make tefisat yadey adam. Maharit 17 also writes that anything which is pushed only with a koach sheni it is considered a grama and not an issue of tefisat yadey adam. Therefore, he writes that water that was drawn from a river into a mikveh using a water mill with buckets that had holes in them is kosher. Zichron Yosef 13 also writes that koach kocho doesn’t create tefisat yadey adam. Ben Ish Chai in Hod Yosef 71 writes that koach kocho is a discussion by shechita and to avoid the opinion of the Tevuot Shor if it is a koach koach kocho it isn’t considered tefisat yadey adam. Divrei Yosef p. 148 supports this approach by saying that as long as the water isn’t naturally drawn into the mikveh it is invalid.
  22. ↑ Imrei Yosher 1:148
  23. ↑ *Raavad (Baalei Hanefesh Shaar Hamayim p. 117) states that water that was drawn by a person is invalid for a mikveh like water in a vessel. Nonetheless, water drawn by a person is slightly different in that it would be kosher even if the entire mikveh is drawn along the ground, unlike water that was in a vessel which is invalid if the entire mikveh is drawn along the ground. This Raavad is cited by the Bet Yosef 201:15:1 p. 255 and Taz 201:28.
    • However, the Bet Yosef 201:39 assumes that the two invalidations are the same and the Rash who says hamshacha on tefisat yadey adam holds in general that tefisat yadey adam is effective for everything.
    • On the other hand, the Rashba (Torat Habayit Shaar Hamayim ch. 5 36a) writes that only if water is drawn by the feet of animal is it is valid but if a person draws water with his feet it is invalid even if it is drawn along the ground. Bet Yosef 201:39 cites this. Rosh Hilchot Mikvaot no. 2 cited by Bet Yosef 201:15:4 and Tur 201:15 agree. However, the Rash Mikvaot 2:8 and Rambam Hilchot Mikvaot 5:8 seem to agree with the Raavad and don’t distinguish between people and animals and both are valid if it is drawn along the ground. See Taz 201:28 for a lengthy explanation of both approaches.
    • Bach 201:26 and Taz 201:28 write that we follow the Rosh. Therefore, it is only valid if there’s a majority of rainwater in the mikveh besides the water drawn on the ground by a person into it. Aruch Hashulchan 201:120 agrees. (Rama seems to be citing both the Raavad and Rosh but see the Taz.) Divrei Yosef p. 147 writes that the Shulchan Aruch 201:39 accepts the Rosh and Tur.
    • Taharat Mayim (siman 24) quotes Nachal Eshkol 53:3 who wants to be lenient based on Baal Hameor, Rash, Rambam, and Rosh who hold that hamshacha removes the issue of ba al yedey adam. He also quotes Zichron Yosef 13 also holding this as well. Maharam Shik YD 196 holds that hamshacha on its own is not enough to permit ba al yedey adam.
  24. ↑ Chazon Ish YD 129:10 argues that everyone agrees that if the water didn’t leave the ground it is valid even if it is drawn by a person. Chelkat Binyamin 201:270 presents both the approach of the Taz and Chazon Ish, but doesn’t offer a resolution. In the footnotes he cites the Taharat Yisrael 83 and Shach 201:50 as holding like the Chazon Ish. Similarly, Igrot Moshe YD 1:120:5 distinguishes between having the water not leave the ground in which case there’s no tefisat yadey adam and carrying the water and then placing it on the ground for hamshacha which is invalid to remove tefisat yadey adam.
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