Mikvaot: Difference between revisions

* Rambam Mikvaot 9:11 explains that the majority of the rainwater makes the whole river unfit if it entered the river or spring anywhere besides the original pit of the spring. Shulchan Aruch 201:2 accepts the Rambam. The Kesef Mishna 9:11 and Bet Yosef 201:15 explain that the Rambam would validate a majority of rainwater that entered the river in any part that was originally moving just like if rainwater entered the original pit of the spring. Shaarei Mikvaot 201:7 writes that the Shulchan Aruch follows this opinion since he quoted the opinion of the Rambam. Divrei Yosef p. 34-35 agrees in interpreting Shulchan Aruch. See Divrei Chayim 201:8 who rejects this interpretation of the Rambam, otherwise most rivers would be fit and the Rambam quotes Rav’s concerns of going to mikveh in a river.

*Rishonim ask why Mikvaot 5:3 states that if drawn water is added to a mayan and it was previously moving, it remains a mayan. The mishna implies that this is true even if there is a majority of drawn water. However, Mikvaot 5:5 implies that if there is a majority of rainwater in a mayan, the mayan only purifies if it is standing still. Ran answers that even if there's a majority of drawn or rainwater it remains a mayan in the place where it was previously moving. However, if it wasn't previously moving it only purifies if it is standing still. Ramban answers that if the water was added to the primary pit of the mayan it is kosher as a mayan. However, if the water was added to the extensions of the mayan it only purifies if it is standing. Rav Pinchas Halevi answers that if there is a majority of drawn or rainwater it only purifies if it is standing. Also, if a minority of drawn or rainwater it only purifies in the place that it was previously moving.</ref>

===Mayan with Minority Drawn or Rain Water===