Berachot 22: Shema, Seminal Emissions and Feces/Urine

A woman who has intercourse and sees menstrual blood is not required to immerse herself but a man who experiences a seminal emission must do so.  Rabbi Yehuda says that the important things is to contemplate the meaning of the Shema while saying it.  A man who cannot immerse should recite Shema with his lips and should think about the statement of the Shema and should say some prayers but not all.  Usually a transgression should be followed by studying Mishna/Toroah, but in the case of seminal emissions might not be permitted to do so.  

We are told a story about Rabbi Yehuda.  He had a seminal emission while walking and then ritually immersed before praying.  His students asked why he did that.  Rabbi Yehuda said that he sets those standards for others but he sets higher standards for himself.   We are also learn about a student reading mishnayot and baraitot aloud unevenly.  Rabbi Yehuda says that like fire does not carry ritual impurity, matters of Torah do not become ritually impure.

The rabbis connect this with the the halachot of first shearing.  These are practiced only in Eretz Yisrael.  What other halachot were changed?  The rabbis discussed the ending of ritual immersion and the washing of the hands.  Part of the reason to end these changes was that a seminal emission required immersion or having nine kav of drawn water poured over him.  Instead, was it fine to consider him to be considered ritually pure?  We are told that Nachum of Gam Zo whispered this to Rabbi Aviva who whispered it to ben Azzai, who either taught it or whispered it to his students in the marketplace.  Perhaps the need for ritual immersion would balance the need for Torah scholars to procreate with the need for Torah scholars to not be "roosters" with their wives.

What is the essence of immersion?  We are told of a man who solicited a woman for sex.  She balked, asking if he even had the forty se'a in which he would immerse afterward.  He walked away.  Thus ritual immersion helps us keep us from transgressing.  Heated bathhouses are said to be more comfortable and permitted for use in ritual immersion for sexual emissions.  Rabbi Chisda, Rav Huna and Rav Adda bar Ahava argue about whether or not warm water is permitted for immersion.  We are reminded that we are speaking about a one who experienced a regular seminal emission.  

For some time in amud (b), the rabbis discuss the different halachot that apply when men have seminal emissions when they are sick or healthy; when the emissions are voluntary or involuntary.

A new Mishna teaches us more about ritual impurity.  It teaches that:

• One who was standing in prayer and recalled that he had a seminal emission and believes he should not pray should not interrupt his prayer but should abridge each blessing
• The general principle is that one who descends to immerse oneself - if one is able to ascend, cover oneself with a garment and recite in the morning Shema before sunrise, he should do so.  
• He may not cover himself in either foul water, or water where flax was soaked, until he pours other water into it
• One must be at least four cubits from from feces when reciting the Shema

The rabbis discuss examples where people realize they have had seminal emissions, or are close to feces, or urine is down to their knees, while praying.  They argue about when and how to interrupt their prayer, particularly when urinating.