Mikvaot: Difference between revisions
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→A Colored Mikveh
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# A colored mikveh can be fixed by having it connected to a spring.<ref>Rashba Shaar Hamayim 11 cited by Bet Yosef 201:28, Shulchan Aruch YD 201:28</ref> | # A colored mikveh can be fixed by having it connected to a spring.<ref>Rashba Shaar Hamayim 11 cited by Bet Yosef 201:28, Shulchan Aruch YD 201:28</ref> | ||
# A colored mikveh can be fixed by having more water added to it to change its color back to regular water. If the mikveh has 40 seah the water added can even be drawn water.<ref>Mishna Mikvaot 7:3 states that a mikveh that has 40 seah and its water changed colors is invalid unless water is added and that water can even be drawn. The [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=8785&pgnum=111 Raavad Baalei Hanefesh p. 111], Rambam Mikvaot 7:9, Tur and Shulchan Aruch YD 201:25 agree.</ref> | # A colored mikveh can be fixed by having more water added to it to change its color back to regular water. If the mikveh has 40 seah the water added can even be drawn water.<ref>Mishna Mikvaot 7:3 states that a mikveh that has 40 seah and its water changed colors is invalid unless water is added and that water can even be drawn. The [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=8785&pgnum=111 Raavad Baalei Hanefesh p. 111], Rambam Mikvaot 7:9, Tur and Shulchan Aruch YD 201:25 agree.</ref> | ||
# A spring isn’t susceptible to the invalidation of having its water change colors.<ref>The Mishna Mikvaot 7:3 establishes that colored or dirty water doesn’t invalidate the mikveh because of a change of color. [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=8785&pgnum=111 Raavad Baalei Hanefesh p. 111] explains that unless the actual coloring agent such as wine or dye is added to the mikveh it doesn’t invalidate it because of a change of color. Shulchan Aruch 201:27 generally accepts the Raavad. Shach 201:64 quotes the Raavad.</ref> | # A spring isn’t susceptible to the invalidation of having its water change colors.<ref>The Mishna Mikvaot 7:3 establishes that colored or dirty water doesn’t invalidate the mikveh because of a change of color. [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=8785&pgnum=111 Raavad Baalei Hanefesh p. 111] explains that unless the actual coloring agent such as wine or dye is added to the mikveh it doesn’t invalidate it because of a change of color. Shulchan Aruch 201:27 generally accepts the Raavad. Shach 201:64 quotes the Raavad.</ref> | ||
# If part of the mikveh changed colors that area doesn’t count towards the mikveh but if there’s 40 seah that is unchanged it is a kosher mikveh if one dips in the area that didn’t change colors.<ref>Rambam Mikvaot 7:9, Shulchan Aruch 201:26</ref> | # If part of the mikveh changed colors that area doesn’t count towards the mikveh but if there’s 40 seah that is unchanged it is a kosher mikveh if one dips in the area that didn’t change colors.<ref>Rambam Mikvaot 7:9, Shulchan Aruch 201:26</ref> | ||
# A mikveh that changed colors on its own is valid.<ref>Rambam Mikavot 7:12, Shulchan Aruch 201:27</ref> | # A mikveh that changed colors on its own is valid.<ref>Rambam Mikavot 7:12, Shulchan Aruch 201:27</ref> | ||
# A colored mikveh is only invalid if the actual coloring agent is added to the mikveh such as wine or dye, but not if it is only colored because of something else such as colored or dirty water.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 201:27</ref> | |||
# A mikveh that was incomplete and wine was added so that the color of all of it changed then even if drawn water is then added it isn’t invalidated because of drawn water because while it is invalid as a colored mikveh being drawn doesn’t invalidate it. Afterwards if more water is added such that the whole mikveh returns to the original color it is fit.<ref>Raavad Mikvaot 7:12 based on Tosefta Mikvaot 5:8 writes that while the water was invalid because of having its color changed it can’t become invalid as drawn water since it isn’t considered water at all. Afterwards once more water is added and its original color returns it is fit. Rama 201:29 codifies the Raavad.</ref> | # A mikveh that was incomplete and wine was added so that the color of all of it changed then even if drawn water is then added it isn’t invalidated because of drawn water because while it is invalid as a colored mikveh being drawn doesn’t invalidate it. Afterwards if more water is added such that the whole mikveh returns to the original color it is fit.<ref>Raavad Mikvaot 7:12 based on Tosefta Mikvaot 5:8 writes that while the water was invalid because of having its color changed it can’t become invalid as drawn water since it isn’t considered water at all. Afterwards once more water is added and its original color returns it is fit. Rama 201:29 codifies the Raavad.</ref> | ||
# Some poskim hold that a mikveh that is incomplete and invalidated because 3 lug or more of drawn water was added can be fixed as follows: wine is added so that the entire mikveh changes the look of wine, then more water is added until its original color returns. However, many poskim hold that this isn’t solution doesn’t work.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 201:432 cites a dispute between the Chazon Ish Mikvaot 5:13 and the Maharsham 3:11 whether it is possible to fix a mikveh by changing its color and then returning its color. The Maharsham held that it is possible to fix since once it turns into colored water the invalidation of drawn water doesn’t count and when its color returns it is a kosher mikveh. Bet Shlomo 1:171, Bet Yitzchak 2:41, and others agreed. However, the Chazon Ish held that the only time drawn water doesn’t invalidate a colored mikveh is if it colored the mikveh prior to the drawn water entering. However, once a mikveh is invalid because of drawn water it remains invalid.</ref> Even the lenient opinion can be relied upon if the original invalidation was only rabbinic and not Biblical.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 201:432 writes that one can only use the solution of the Maharsham if the invalidation was rabbinic but if it is Biblical it doesn’t work since the entire concept of having the waters change colors is only rabbinic to begin with according to many poskim.</ref> | # Some poskim hold that a mikveh that is incomplete and invalidated because 3 lug or more of drawn water was added can be fixed as follows: wine is added so that the entire mikveh changes the look of wine, then more water is added until its original color returns. However, many poskim hold that this isn’t solution doesn’t work.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 201:432 cites a dispute between the Chazon Ish Mikvaot 5:13 and the Maharsham 3:11 whether it is possible to fix a mikveh by changing its color and then returning its color. The Maharsham held that it is possible to fix since once it turns into colored water the invalidation of drawn water doesn’t count and when its color returns it is a kosher mikveh. Bet Shlomo 1:171, Bet Yitzchak 2:41, and others agreed. However, the Chazon Ish held that the only time drawn water doesn’t invalidate a colored mikveh is if it colored the mikveh prior to the drawn water entering. However, once a mikveh is invalid because of drawn water it remains invalid.</ref> Even the lenient opinion can be relied upon if the original invalidation was only rabbinic and not Biblical.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 201:432 writes that one can only use the solution of the Maharsham if the invalidation was rabbinic but if it is Biblical it doesn’t work since the entire concept of having the waters change colors is only rabbinic to begin with according to many poskim.</ref> | ||
# It is permitted to add chlorine powder to a complete mikveh if it doesn’t change its color.<ref>Mesorat Moshe v. 2 p. 229</ref> | # It is permitted to add chlorine powder to a complete mikveh if it doesn’t change its color.<ref>Mesorat Moshe v. 2 p. 229</ref> | ||
==Creation of a Mikveh through Something Susceptible to Tumah== | ==Creation of a Mikveh through Something Susceptible to Tumah== | ||
# A mikveh may not be created by the use of something that is susceptible to tumah otherwise it is invalid.<Ref>Mishna Mikvaot 6:4, Zevachim 25b, Shulchan Aruch 201:48. The Bet Yosef 201:48 explains that in fact the entire concept that if there’s something susceptible to tumah in the creation of the mikveh it is invalid is only the opinion of the Rash and Rosh but the Rambam completely disagrees. We follow the Rash and Rosh.</ref> This invalidation is Biblical.<Ref>Chatom Sofer 199:5 and Chazon Ish Mikvaot 3:17 hold it is Biblical since it is learned from a pasuk. Chelkat Binyamin 201:679 agrees.</ref> | # A mikveh may not be created by the use of something that is susceptible to tumah otherwise it is invalid.<Ref>Mishna Mikvaot 6:4, Zevachim 25b, Shulchan Aruch 201:48. The Bet Yosef 201:48 explains that in fact the entire concept that if there’s something susceptible to tumah in the creation of the mikveh it is invalid is only the opinion of the Rash and Rosh but the Rambam completely disagrees. We follow the Rash and Rosh.</ref> This invalidation is Biblical.<Ref>Chatom Sofer 199:5 and Chazon Ish Mikvaot 3:17 hold it is Biblical since it is learned from a pasuk. Chelkat Binyamin 201:679 agrees.</ref> | ||
