## Berakhot Daf 62a

###### Berakhot 62a:1
[Berakhot 62a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:1)

תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: פַּעַם אַחַת נִכְנַסְתִּי אַחַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא, וְלָמַדְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים: לָמַדְתִּי שֶׁאֵין נִפְנִין מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב אֶלָּא צָפוֹן וְדָרוֹם, וְלָמַדְתִּי שֶׁאֵין נִפְרָעִין מְעוּמָּד אֶלָּא מְיוּשָּׁב, וְלָמַדְתִּי שֶׁאֵין מְקַנְּחִין בְּיָמִין אֶלָּא בִּשְׂמֹאל. אָמַר לוֹ בֶּן עַזַּאי: עַד כָּאן הֵעַזְתָּ פָּנֶיךָ בְּרַבְּךָ?! אָמַר לוֹ תּוֹרָה הִיא, וְלִלְמוֹד אֲנִי צָרִיךְ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**It was taught** in a *baraita* in tractate *Derekh Eretz* that **Rabbi Akiva said: I once entered the bathroom after** my teacher **Rabbi Yehoshua, and I learned three things from** observing **his** behavior: **I learned that one should not defecate** while facing **east and west, but rather** while facing **north and south; I learned that one should not uncover himself** while **standing, but** while **sitting,** in the interest of modesty; **and I learned that one should not wipe with his right** hand, **but with his left. Ben Azzai,** a student of Rabbi Akiva, **said to him: You were impertinent to your teacher to that extent** that you observed that much? **He replied: It is Torah, and I must learn.**


###### Berakhot 62a:2
[Berakhot 62a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:2)

תַּנְיָא, בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר: פַּעַם אַחַת נִכְנַסְתִּי אַחַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא, וְלָמַדְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים: לָמַדְתִּי שֶׁאֵין נִפְנִין מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב אֶלָּא צָפוֹן וְדָרוֹם, וְלָמַדְתִּי שֶׁאֵין נִפְרָעִין מְעוּמָּד אֶלָּא מְיוּשָּׁב, וְלָמַדְתִּי שֶׁאֵין מְקַנְּחִין בְּיָמִין אֶלָּא בִּשְׂמֹאל. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: עַד כָּאן הֵעַזְתָּ פָּנֶיךָ בְּרַבְּךָ?! אָמַר לוֹ: תּוֹרָה הִיא, וְלִלְמוֹד אֲנִי צָרִיךְ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
Similarly, **we learned** in a *baraita*: **Ben Azzai said: I once entered a bathroom after Rabbi Akiva, and I learned three things from** observing **his** behavior: **I learned that one should not defecate** while facing **east and west, but rather** while facing **north and south; I learned that one should not uncover himself** while **standing, but** while **sitting; and I learned that one should not wipe with his right** hand, **but with his left. Rabbi Yehuda said to him: You were impertinent to your teacher to that extent? He replied: It is Torah, and I must learn.**


###### Berakhot 62a:3
[Berakhot 62a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:3)

רַב כָּהֲנָא עָל, גְּנָא תּוּתֵיהּ פּוּרְיֵיהּ דְּרַב. שַׁמְעֵיהּ דְּשָׂח וְשָׂחַק וְעָשָׂה צְרָכָיו. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: דָּמֵי פּוּמֵּיהּ דְּאַבָּא כִּדְלָא שָׂרֵיף תַּבְשִׁילָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כָּהֲנָא, הָכָא אַתְּ? פּוּק, דְּלָאו אֹרַח אַרְעָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: תּוֹרָה הִיא, וְלִלְמוֹד אֲנִי צָרִיךְ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
On a similar note, the Gemara relates that **Rav Kahana entered and lay beneath Rav’s bed. He heard** Rav **chatting and laughing** with his wife, **and seeing to his needs,** i.e., having relations with her. Rav Kahana **said to** Rav: **The mouth** of **Abba,** Rav, **is like** one whom **has never eaten a cooked dish,** i.e., his behavior was lustful. Rav **said to him: Kahana, you are here? Leave, as** this **is an undesirable mode of behavior.** Rav Kahana **said to him: It is Torah, and I must learn.**


###### Berakhot 62a:4
[Berakhot 62a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:4)

מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין מְקַנְּחִין בְּיָמִין אֶלָּא בִּשְׂמֹאל? אָמַר רָבָא: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה נִיתְּנָה בְּיָמִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ״. רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא קְרוֹבָה לַפֶּה. וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקּוֹשֵׁר בָּהּ תְּפִילִּין. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּרְאֶה בָּהּ טַעֲמֵי תוֹרָה.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara asks: **Why must one not wipe** himself **with his right** hand, **but with his left? Rava said: Because the Torah was given with the right** hand, **as it is stated: “At His right hand was a fiery law unto them”** (Deuteronomy 33:2). **Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Because** the right hand **is close to the mouth,** i.e., people eat with the right hand. **And Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Because one ties the phylacteries** onto his left hand **with** his right hand. **Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Because one points to the** cantillation **notes of the Torah with** his right hand.


###### Berakhot 62a:5
[Berakhot 62a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:5)

כְּתַנָּאֵי. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאוֹכֵל בָּהּ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכּוֹתֵב בָּהּ. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּרְאֶה בָּהּ טַעֲמֵי תוֹרָה.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara notes that this is **parallel to a tannaitic** dispute: **Rabbi Eliezer says:** One is forbidden to wipe himself with his right hand **because he eats with it. Rabbi Yehoshua says: Because he writes with it. Rabbi Akiva says: Because he points to the notes of the Torah with it.**


###### Berakhot 62a:6
[Berakhot 62a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:6)

אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם בַּר חֲנִילַאי: כׇּל הַצָּנוּעַ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא נִצּוֹל מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים — מִן הַנְּחָשִׁים, וּמִן הָעַקְרַבִּים, וּמִן הַמַּזִּיקִין. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים אַף חֲלוֹמוֹתָיו מְיוּשָּׁבִים עָלָיו.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**Rabbi Tanḥum bar Ḥanilai said: Anyone who is modest in the bathroom will be saved from three things: From snakes, from scorpions and from demons. And some say** that **even his dreams will be settling for him.**


###### Berakhot 62a:7
[Berakhot 62a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:7)

הַהוּא בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא דַּהֲוָה בִּטְבֶרְיָא, כִּי הֲווֹ עָיְילִי בֵּיהּ בֵּי תְרֵי — אֲפִילּוּ בִּימָמָא מִתַּזְּקִי. רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי הֲווֹ עָיְילִי בֵּיהּ חַד וְחַד לְחוֹדֵיהּ — וְלָא מִתַּזְּקִי. אָמְרִי לְהוּ רַבָּנַן: לָא מִסְתְּפֵיתוּ? אָמְרִי לְהוּ: אֲנַן קַבָּלָה גְּמִירִינַן, קַבָּלָה דְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא — צְנִיעוּתָא וּשְׁתִיקוּתָא. קַבָּלָה דְיִסּוּרֵי — שְׁתִיקוּתָא וּמִבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara relates: **There was a particular bathroom in** the city of **Tiberias, where, when two would enter it, even during the day, they would be harmed** by demons. When **Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would each enter alone, they were not harmed. The Sages said to them: Aren’t you afraid?** Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi **said to them: We have learned** through tradition: The **tradition** to avoid danger in the **bathroom** is to conduct oneself with **modesty and silence. The tradition** to end **suffering** is with **silence and prayer.**


###### Berakhot 62a:8
[Berakhot 62a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:8)

אַבָּיֵי מְרַבְּיָא לֵיהּ אִמֵּיהּ אִמְּרָא לְמֵיעַל בַּהֲדֵיהּ לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא. וּלְרַבֵּי לֵיהּ גַּדְיָא! שָׂעִיר בְּשָׂעִיר מִיחַלַּף.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
Because fear of demons in bathrooms was pervasive, the Gemara relates: **Abaye’s mother raised a lamb to accompany him to the bathroom.** The Gemara objects: She should have **raised a goat for him.** The Gemara responds: **A goat** could be **interchanged with a goat-demon.** Since both the demon and the goat are called *sa’ir*, they were afraid to bring a goat to a place frequented by demons.


###### Berakhot 62a:9
[Berakhot 62a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:9)

רָבָא, מִקַּמֵּי דַּהֲוָה רֵישָׁא, מְקַרְקְשָׁא לֵיהּ בַּת רַב חִסְדָּא אַמְגּוּזָא בְּלָקָנָא. בָּתַר דִּמְלַךְ, עֲבַדָא לֵיהּ כַּוְּותָא, וּמַנְּחָא לֵיהּ יְדָא אַרֵישֵׁיהּ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**Before Rava became the head of the yeshiva,** his wife, **the daughter of Rav Ḥisda, would rattle a nut in a copper vessel for him.** This was in order to fend off demons when he was in the bathroom. **After** he was chosen to **preside** as head of the yeshiva, he required an additional degree of protection, so **she constructed a window for him,** opposite where he would defecate, **and placed her hand upon his head.**


###### Berakhot 62a:10
[Berakhot 62a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:10)

אָמַר עוּלָּא: אֲחוֹרֵי הַגָּדֵר — נִפְנֶה מִיָּד. וּבַבִּקְעָה, כׇּל זְמַן שֶׁמִּתְעַטֵּשׁ וְאֵין חֲבֵרוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ. אִיסִי בַּר נָתָן מַתְנֵי הָכִי: אֲחוֹרֵי הַגָּדֵר, כׇּל זְמַן שֶׁמִּתְעַטֵּשׁ וְאֵין חֲבֵרוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ, וּבַבִּקְעָה — כׇּל זְמַן שֶׁאֵין חֲבֵרוֹ רוֹאֵהוּ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
With regard to where one may or may not go to defecate, **Ulla said: Behind a fence, one** need not distance himself from people and **may defecate immediately. In a valley** or open field, one must distance himself **sufficiently so that if he passes wind, no one will hear him. Isi bar Natan taught as follows: Behind a fence** one must distance himself **sufficiently so that if he passes wind another does not hear him, and in a valley,** one must distance himself **sufficiently so that no one can see him.**


###### Berakhot 62a:11
[Berakhot 62a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:11)

מֵיתִיבִי: יוֹצְאִין מִפֶּתַח בֵּית הַבַּד, וְנִפְנִין לַאֲחוֹרֵי הַגָּדֵר, וְהֵן טְהוֹרִין!

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara **raises an objection** based on what we learned in a mishna in *Teharot*: Physical laborers, who usually fall into the category of *am ha’aretz* and are not generally cautious with regard to the laws of ritual purity, **exit from the entrance of the olive press, defecate behind the fence, and are ritually pure.** There is no reason to be concerned that they might become impure in the interim. This indicates that a greater distance is unnecessary.


###### Berakhot 62a:12
[Berakhot 62a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:12)

בִּטְהָרוֹת הֵקֵלּוּ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara responds: **With regard to** the laws of **ritual purity, they were lenient.** To ensure maintenance of purity, they were lenient and did not require a greater distance.


###### Berakhot 62a:13
[Berakhot 62a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:13)

תָּא שְׁמַע: כַּמָּה יַרְחִקוּ וְיִהְיוּ טְהוֹרִין — כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא רוֹאֵהוּ! שָׁאנֵי אוֹכְלֵי טְהָרוֹת, דַּאֲקִילּוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**Come and hear** from what we learned: **How far** may workers **distance themselves, and** the fruit and oil **will** remain **pure?** They may distance themselves only **so far that he** still **sees him.** This contradicts the opinion of Isi bar Natan, who required them to distance themselves sufficiently that they may not be seen. The Gemara responds: Those **who eat in purity are different, as the Sages were lenient with them.**


###### Berakhot 62a:14
[Berakhot 62a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:14)

רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: מַאי ״כׇּל זְמַן שֶׁאֵין חֲבֵרוֹ רוֹאֶה״ דְּקָאָמַר אִיסִי בַּר נָתָן — כׇּל זְמַן שֶׁאֵין חֲבֵרוֹ רוֹאֶה אֶת פֵּרוּעוֹ, אֲבָל לְדִידֵיהּ חָזֵי לֵיהּ.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**Rav Ashi said: What is** the meaning of: **So long as another does not see him, which** was the standard that **Isi bar Natan said? Sufficient that another person cannot see his nakedness, although he does see him.**


###### Berakhot 62a:15
[Berakhot 62a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:15)

הַהוּא סַפְדָנָא דִּנְחֵית קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן, אֲמַר: ״הַאי צָנוּעַ בְּאוֹרְחוֹתָיו הֲוָה״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן: אַתְּ עֲיַילְתְּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא וְיָדְעַתְּ אִי צָנוּעַ אִי לָא? דְּתַנְיָא: אֵין קוֹרִין ״צָנוּעַ״ אֶלָּא לְמִי שֶׁצָּנוּעַ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara relates: **There was a particular eulogizer who went** to eulogize an important person **in the presence of Rav Naḥman.** Of the deceased, **he said: This** man **was modest in his ways. Rav Naḥman said to him: Did you go to the bathroom with him and know whether or not he was modest? As we learned** in a *baraita*: **One can only describe as modest one who is modest** even **in the bathroom,** when no one else is there.


###### Berakhot 62a:16
[Berakhot 62a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:16)

וְרַב נַחְמָן מַאי נָפְקָא לֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ? מִשּׁוּם דְּתַנְיָא: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּפְרָעִין מִן הַמֵּתִים כָּךְ נִפְרָעִין מִן הַסַּפְדָנִין, וּמִן הָעוֹנִין אַחֲרֵיהֶן.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara asks: **And what difference** did it make **to Rav Naḥman,** that he was so insistent upon the details of whether or not this man was modest? The Gemara answers: **Because it was taught** in a *baraita*: **Just as the deceased are punished, so too are the eulogizers and those who answer after them.**The deceased are punished for transgressions committed in their lifetimes. The eulogizers and those who answer are punished for accepting the attribution of virtues that the deceased did not possess.


###### Berakhot 62a:17
[Berakhot 62a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:17)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵיזֶהוּ צָנוּעַ — זֶה הַנִּפְנֶה בַּלַּיְלָה בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁנִּפְנָה בַּיּוֹם.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: **Who is a modest person? One who defecates at night where he defecates during the day,** i.e., who distances himself at night, in order to relieve himself, no less than he distances himself during the day.


###### Berakhot 62a:18
[Berakhot 62a:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:18)

אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לְעוֹלָם יַנְהִיג אָדָם אֶת עַצְמוֹ שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא צָרִיךְ לְהִתְרַחֵק! וְתוּ, רָבָא בִּימָמָא הֲוָה אָזֵיל עַד מִיל, וּבְלֵילְיָא אָמַר לֵיהּ לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: פַּנּוֹ לִי דּוּכְתָּא בִּרְחוֹבָא דְמָתָא. וְכֵן אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: חֲזִי מַאן דְּאִיכָּא אֲחוֹרֵי בֵּית חֶבְרַיָּא, דְּבָעֵינָא לְמִפְנֵי! לָא תֵּימָא בַּמָּקוֹם, אֶלָּא אֵימָא: כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁנִּפְנָה בַּיּוֹם.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara challenges: **Is that so? Didn’t Rav Yehuda say** that **Rav said: One must always accustom himself** to defecate **in the morning and at night,** when it is dark, **so that he will not need to distance himself? Moreover, during the day, Rava would go up to a *mil*** outside the city, **and at night he would tell his servant: Clear a place for me in the city street. And so too, Rabbi Zeira told his servant: See who is behind the study hall, as I need to defecate.** These Sages did not defecate at night in the same place where they defecated during the day. **Rather,** emend the statement and **say** as follows: **In the manner that one defecates during the day,** i.e. he should conduct himself at night with the same degree of modesty with which he removes his clothing when defecating during the day.


###### Berakhot 62a:19
[Berakhot 62a:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:19)

רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא בַּמָּקוֹם, לֹא נִצְרְכָה אֶלָּא לְקֶרֶן זָוִית.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**Rav Ashi said: Even if you say** that the text can remain as it was: **Where he defecates during the day,** it **was only necessary in** the case of **a corner,** where one may conceal himself. In the interest of modesty, he should go around the corner at night, just as he does during the day.


###### Berakhot 62a:20
[Berakhot 62a:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:20)

גּוּפָא. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לְעוֹלָם יַנְהִיג אָדָם אֶת עַצְמוֹ שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא צָרִיךְ לְהִתְרַחֵק.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara discusses **the matter itself. Rav Yehuda said** that **Rav said: One must always accustom himself** to defecate early **in the morning and** late **at night so that he will not need to distance himself.**


###### Berakhot 62a:21
[Berakhot 62a:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:21)

תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי, בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר: הַשְׁכֵּם וָצֵא, הַעֲרֵב וָצֵא, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּתְרַחֵק. מַשְׁמֵשׁ וָשֵׁב, וְאַל תֵּשֵׁב וּתְמַשְׁמֵשׁ, שֶׁכָּל הַיּוֹשֵׁב וּמְמַשְׁמֵשׁ — אֲפִילּוּ עוֹשִׂין כְּשָׁפִים בְּאַסְפַּמְיָא, בָּאִין עָלָיו.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
**That** opinion **was also taught** in a *baraita*: **Ben Azzai said: Rise early** in the morning **and go** defecate, wait for **evening and go** defecate, **so that you will not** need to **distance yourself.** He also said: **Touch** around the anus first to assist in the opening of orifices **and** then **sit; do not sit and** then **touch, for anyone who sits and** then **touches, even if sorcery is performed in** a distant place like **Aspamia,** the sorcery **will come upon him.**


###### Berakhot 62a:22
[Berakhot 62a:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Berakhot/r/62a:22)

וְאִי אִנְּשִׁי וִיתִיב וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַשְׁמֵשׁ, מַאי תַּקַּנְתֵּיהּ? — כִּי קָאֵי, לֵימָא הָכִי: ״לָא לִי לָא לִי, לָא תַּחִים וְלָא תַּחְתִּים, לָא הָנֵי וְלָא מֵהָנֵי, לָא חַרְשֵׁי דְחַרָּשָׁא וְלָא חַרְשֵׁי דְחַרָּשְׁתָא״.

**Tractate Berakot by A. Cohen, Cambridge University Press, 1921:**
The Gemara says: **And if one forgets and sits and then touches, what is his remedy? When** he **stands,** he should **recite the following** incantation: **Not for me, not for me, neither *taḥim* nor *taḥtim*,** types of sorcery, **neither these nor from these, neither the sorcery of a sorcerer nor the sorcery of a sorceress.**