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Mikvaot: Difference between revisions
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→Minimum Measurement of Mikveh
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==Mikveh== | ==Mikveh== | ||
===Minimum Measurement of Mikveh=== | ===Minimum Measurement of Mikveh=== | ||
# A mikveh requires 40 seah at a minimum. The size of 40 seah is measured by 1 amah x 1 amah x 3 amot.<ref>The Gemara Avoda Zara 75b derives from Torah that a mikveh requires 40 seah at a minimum, which is measured by 1 amah x 1 amah x 3 amot. The same idea is found in Eruvin 4b and [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14026&st=&pgnum=148 Torat Kohanim Shemini 9]. </ref> A person who goes to the mikveh needs to go in it completely at one time and be completely covered by the water at one time.<ref>Bet Yosef YD 198:1 cites the Sifra Emor 4:7 which derives from the pasuk Vayikra 22:6 that a person is only purified by going to the mikveh if one is completely covered by the water at one time. That is codified by Shulchan Aruch 198:1.</ref> | # A mikveh requires 40 seah at a minimum.<ref>Rivash 294 clarifies that this minimum size of 40 seah is from the Torah.</ref> The size of 40 seah is measured by 1 amah x 1 amah x 3 amot.<ref>The Gemara Avoda Zara 75b derives from Torah that a mikveh requires 40 seah at a minimum, which is measured by 1 amah x 1 amah x 3 amot. The same idea is found in Eruvin 4b and [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14026&st=&pgnum=148 Torat Kohanim Shemini 9]. </ref> A person who goes to the mikveh needs to go in it completely at one time and be completely covered by the water at one time.<ref>Bet Yosef YD 198:1 cites the Sifra Emor 4:7 which derives from the pasuk Vayikra 22:6 that a person is only purified by going to the mikveh if one is completely covered by the water at one time. That is codified by Shulchan Aruch 198:1.</ref> | ||
# The minimal amount of a mikveh theoretically is 332 liters but the practice is to use double or triple that amount.<ref>Rav Chaim Noeh in Shiurei Torah (3:29 p. 257) writes that since there’s a 24 log in a seah, 4 reviyot in a log, and 27 dirham in a reviyit, each of which is 3.2 grams of water in a mikveh of 40 seah there is 24*4*27*3.2*40=331,776 grams = 331.8 liters. He says that since perhaps the water measures of the Rambam are slightly different in other waters he says it is sufficient to add 3% which is another 10 liters, altogether 342 liters is certainly sufficient. However, the minhag is to use double or quadruple that amount.</ref> | # The minimal amount of a mikveh theoretically is 332 liters but the practice is to use double or triple that amount.<ref>Rav Chaim Noeh in Shiurei Torah (3:29 p. 257) writes that since there’s a 24 log in a seah, 4 reviyot in a log, and 27 dirham in a reviyit, each of which is 3.2 grams of water in a mikveh of 40 seah there is 24*4*27*3.2*40=331,776 grams = 331.8 liters. He says that since perhaps the water measures of the Rambam are slightly different in other waters he says it is sufficient to add 3% which is another 10 liters, altogether 342 liters is certainly sufficient. However, the minhag is to use double or quadruple that amount.</ref> | ||
# A person who is large and can’t fit in a mikveh of 40 seah needs to dip in a larger mivkeh.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 201:10 writes that obviously if there's a large person who can't fit in a mikveh for 40 seah needs to dip in a mikveh that's larger than 40 seah. Darkei Teshuva 201:2 asks that it seems that 40 seah is a halacha lmoshe msinai in all cases and having more is only rabbinic. Rav Schachter in Bet Yosef Shaul v. 2 writes that the Aruch Hashulchan is right.</ref> | # A person who is large and can’t fit in a mikveh of 40 seah needs to dip in a larger mivkeh.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 201:10 writes that obviously if there's a large person who can't fit in a mikveh for 40 seah needs to dip in a mikveh that's larger than 40 seah. Darkei Teshuva 201:2 asks that it seems that 40 seah is a halacha lmoshe msinai in all cases and having more is only rabbinic. Rav Schachter in Bet Yosef Shaul v. 2 writes that the Aruch Hashulchan is right.</ref> | ||
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* According to the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch we should measure the mud with a cow today. But according to the Rash and Smak we would follow the most stringent opinion of the mishna which is that it is only thin if a straw would be placed in it and it would fall in. The Divrei Yosef explains the Shulchan Aruch, while the Bear Hagolah 201:72 and Chelkat Binyamin 201:470 follow the Rash.</ref> It is possible to dip in the thin mud in the mikveh as long as there is water covering the mud.<ref>Mishna Mikvaot 2:10, Rambam Mikvaot 8:10, Tur and Shulchan Aruch 201:32</ref> | * According to the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch we should measure the mud with a cow today. But according to the Rash and Smak we would follow the most stringent opinion of the mishna which is that it is only thin if a straw would be placed in it and it would fall in. The Divrei Yosef explains the Shulchan Aruch, while the Bear Hagolah 201:72 and Chelkat Binyamin 201:470 follow the Rash.</ref> It is possible to dip in the thin mud in the mikveh as long as there is water covering the mud.<ref>Mishna Mikvaot 2:10, Rambam Mikvaot 8:10, Tur and Shulchan Aruch 201:32</ref> | ||
# Any creature that grows in the water such as fish can count towards the mikveh<ref>Gemara Zevachim 22a establishes that anything which grows in the water can be used for a mikveh. The Rambam Mikvaot 8:11 rules that the eye of a fish can be used for a mikveh. Shulchan Aruch YD 201:33 codifies this.</ref> if it is liquified.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 201:468 writes that the creatures can only possibly be considered part of the mikveh if they are liquified. He cites the Aruch Hashulchan 160:16. See also Rashi Zevachim 22a.</ref> | # Any creature that grows in the water such as fish can count towards the mikveh<ref>Gemara Zevachim 22a establishes that anything which grows in the water can be used for a mikveh. The Rambam Mikvaot 8:11 rules that the eye of a fish can be used for a mikveh. Shulchan Aruch YD 201:33 codifies this.</ref> if it is liquified.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 201:468 writes that the creatures can only possibly be considered part of the mikveh if they are liquified. He cites the Aruch Hashulchan 160:16. See also Rashi Zevachim 22a.</ref> | ||
===Doubt if there was 40 seah=== | ===Doubt if there was 40 seah=== | ||
# A kosher mikveh with 40 seah, which many people used and then was measured and there was 40 seah afterwards there is no doubt that it was kosher the entire time and there’s no concern that it decreased to less than 40 seah and was refilled. Nonetheless, it is proper to check that it has 40 seah before using it. If it is known that it naturally decreased to less than 40 seah at some points it is a concern and is only kosher if it was checked before being used. <ref>Ran responsa 66 explains that with a pit in the ground with water it is possible for the water level to change naturally. If it is known that would naturally decreases to below 40 seah and then increases again it is a problem for the one going in the mikveh unless they know at the time when they’re going to the mikveh that there’s 40 seah. The reason is that a chazaka established kosher status, which naturally changes doesn’t count as a chazaka (Kiddushin 79a). If it happens that it decreases and increases naturally but it isn’t known that it ever decreased to less than 40 seah there’s no problem and one can rely on the original chazaka of the mikveh. Yet, it is proper to check that the mikveh has 40 seah before going to the mikveh since it is possible to check in advance a person shouldn’t rely on a chazaka (pesachim 4a). Shulchan Aruch 201:65 codifies the Ran. Taz 201:85 adds that it is usually sufficient to know that there’s 40 seah afterwards to permit all of previous dippings and it isn’t necessary to know that it was 40 seah to begin with. Shaarei Mikavot 201:275 is only lenient for rabbinic tumahs.</ref> | # A kosher mikveh with 40 seah, which many people used and then was measured and there was 40 seah afterwards there is no doubt that it was kosher the entire time and there’s no concern that it decreased to less than 40 seah and was refilled. Nonetheless, it is proper to check that it has 40 seah before using it. If it is known that it naturally decreased to less than 40 seah at some points it is a concern and is only kosher if it was checked before being used. <ref>Ran responsa 66 explains that with a pit in the ground with water it is possible for the water level to change naturally. If it is known that would naturally decreases to below 40 seah and then increases again it is a problem for the one going in the mikveh unless they know at the time when they’re going to the mikveh that there’s 40 seah. The reason is that a chazaka established kosher status, which naturally changes doesn’t count as a chazaka (Kiddushin 79a). If it happens that it decreases and increases naturally but it isn’t known that it ever decreased to less than 40 seah there’s no problem and one can rely on the original chazaka of the mikveh. Yet, it is proper to check that the mikveh has 40 seah before going to the mikveh since it is possible to check in advance a person shouldn’t rely on a chazaka (pesachim 4a). Shulchan Aruch 201:65 codifies the Ran. Taz 201:85 adds that it is usually sufficient to know that there’s 40 seah afterwards to permit all of previous dippings and it isn’t necessary to know that it was 40 seah to begin with. Shaarei Mikavot 201:275 is only lenient for rabbinic tumahs.</ref> | ||
