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Questions tagged [bathroom]

Questions pertaining to the bathroom.

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29 votes
3 answers
15k views

Why is it permissible to flush a toilet on Shabbat?

I have been reluctant to ask this question on this website because it sounds so ridiculous, but as Hillel said in Avot 2:6 "one who is bashful cannot learn" so here goes... Why is it permissible to ...
Mike's user avatar
  • 5,455
18 votes
1 answer
3k views

Can you take food into the bathroom?

Is one allowed to take food into the bathroom? I heard that the prohibition is only on the type of bathroom used years ago.
user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
724 views

Bringing wallet with benscher into bathroom

If someone has one of the small "pocket benschers" that slide into his wallet, is it a problem for him to walk into the bathroom with his wallet in his pocket?
Daniel's user avatar
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16 votes
3 answers
703 views

How long can you say Asher Yotzar if you forgot?

If you forgot to say Asher Yotzar and remember a while later, is there a time limit as to when you are allowed to say it?
Gershon Gold's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
2k views

What to do with Torah novella thought in the bathroom by accident

Halachically it is prohibited to think about Torah in the bathroom. However, sometimes I'll get up to go to the bathroom while I'm in the middle of a tough sugya and I'll find myself still thinking ...
Shoel U'Meishiv's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
668 views

How do soldiers in the IDF obey Deuteronomy 23:13?

The mitvah talks about ensuring every soldiers have a spade to cover their excrement. The mitvah seems to be pretty obsolete because by now we have toilets all over the place. So, how it's done? Do ...
user4951's user avatar
  • 4,363
14 votes
4 answers
1k views

What is the halachic status of today's modern bathrooms?

Is a bathroom today considered a graf shel re'i? May one engaged in dvarim she'bikdusha (learning, praying etc.) opposite a bathroom with the door open if there is no waste in it?
not-allowed to change my name's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
1k views

Does Maimonides Allow Prayer to Angels?

In his Mishna Commentary to Sanhedrin 10:1 Maimonides lists as his 5th principle the prohibition to pray to an angel even as an intermediary. He counts this in his enumeration of his 13 principles in ...
mevaqesh's user avatar
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14 votes
6 answers
676 views

tznius in the bathroom

It recently came up in a discussion with a friend about the halachos that say that you have to take care only to expose minimal parts of your body while going to the bathroom. Personally, I was ...
Desert Star's user avatar
  • 3,403
14 votes
2 answers
2k views

Halachically, why are men allowed to use urinals?

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayyim 3:13: לא ישתין מעומד, מפני ניצוצות הניתזין על רגליו, אם לא שיעמוד במקום גבוה, או שישתין לתוך עפר תחוח פירוש, קרקע שאינה בתולה, אלא כגון של ארץ חרושה). One ...
DanF's user avatar
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14 votes
1 answer
365 views

Thinking about Purim Torah in the bathroom

It is not permitted to think about Torah in the bathroom regularly, but what about Purim Torah, which is certainly not real Torah study, but still often refers to actual Torah? One might think that ...
Daniel's user avatar
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13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Origins of איל משולש and Vilna Ga'on's bathroom math

There is a well-known fact that the Vilna Ga'on studied math while in the bathroom since Torah was out of the question in an unclean place. It is also somewhat well-known that he produced the material ...
WAF's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is kopi luwac (civet excreted coffee beans) kosher?

Kopi luwak , or civet coffee, refers to the seeds of coffee berries once they have been eaten and egested by the Asian palm civet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak Is it kosher because they ...
Yoni's user avatar
  • 7,580
12 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the conceptual definition of tzniut?

When the concept of tzniut is discussed it is defined as 'modesty' and used overwhelmingly in regard to sexuality. However we know there are other uses for the term such as from the gemarah (Megillah ...
none's user avatar
  • 3,998
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Deleting files containing G-d's Name / taking the host device into the bathroom

Is there any issue regarding deleting electronic files with G-d's Name in them? Also, is there any issue with taking such a device into the bathroom?
cookie monster's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
802 views

Heretics in the bathroom

From my understanding a torah scroll written by a heretic has no sanctity and should be burned (Gittin 45b). May one read torah related material, written by a heretic but that contains nothing ...
rachav's user avatar
  • 535
11 votes
2 answers
328 views

Nursing in the bathroom

Per Food in bathroom it is forbidden to eat in the bathroom. Can a lady nurse in the bathroom or is it considered like eating in the bathroom? (sources)
Gershon Gold's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
443 views

Facebook in the bathroom

While it's certainly very crude, if not plain gross, it's not all that uncommon for people to use social media sites like Facebook while in the bathroom. Many Posekim forbid speaking in the bathroom, ...
Seth J's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
232 views

Reading Mi Yodeya in the bathroom

Is it ok to open Mi Yodeya in the bathroom and skim through the questions trying to find ones that aren't really included in limud ha'torah in order to read them? Or is the opening of the app and the ...
Mark A.'s user avatar
  • 5,117
10 votes
3 answers
1k views

Delaying using the toilet

According to Gemara Makkot 16b, the phrase in Vayikra 20:25 ... and do not make your souls disgusting - וְלֹא תְשַׁקְּצוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם is a command not to hold in the urge to urinate or ...
Michael Sandler's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
710 views

Tzoveah on Shabbos

It is going to sound strange but here is the question In the toilet there are these blue things that clean your bathroom with every flush by adding bleach hence it colors the water blue every time you ...
SimchasTorah's user avatar
  • 33.4k
10 votes
1 answer
182 views

Cleaning chanukia in a bathroom?

The easiest way I have found to get candle wax off a metal chanukia is with a stream of hot water. The wax melts and runs off with the water. One kettle of hot water is not enough to clean it all, ...
Michael Sandler's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
5k views

May one chew gum in the bathroom?

As per this post - Food in bathroom - one may not eat in the bathroom. May one chew gum in the bathroom? Is it considered eating? Connected to this post - Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?
Gershon Gold's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
696 views

Illness with Talit and Tefillin

If one is wearing Talit and Tefillin and suddenly becomes violently ill, what should one do? One cannot enter a bathroom with them on; however, one also runs the risk of fouling himself, or ...
Rabbi Michael Tzadok's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

praying in a restroom

Is it permissible to say a prayer in a restroom (or bathhouse), assuming one does not use a name of God (including things like shalom) or a quotation from Torah? I'm thinking of things likesaying "...
msh210's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
589 views

Is it permissible to say "Shabbos/Shabbat" in the bathroom?

I once heard or read somewhere that Shabbos/Shabbat is one of the names of Hashem. 1- Is there a source for this? 2- If it's true, can I say "Shabbos/Shabbat" in the bathroom?
Gavriel's user avatar
  • 9,838
10 votes
1 answer
825 views

Should there be a mezuzah on a room that has baby diapers?

If there is a general purpose room (like a bedroom) wherein a child's soiled diapers are often disposed of, does that room take on the status of tashmish she'aino shel kavod - a room who's use is not ...
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
974 views

Waiting after using the bathroom before having relations

Where is it brought down that one should wait after going to the bathroom and before having relations. I have heard this before and 2 reasons given. One is that because of the "ruach rah" in the ...
Yehoshua's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
935 views

Mezuzah on a Two-Room Bathroom

This question is a bit complicated: Let's say I have a two-room bathroom. The first room is a room with sinks and mirrors and the second room has the actual toilets. The first room and second room are ...
user1998's user avatar
  • 321
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Sucking Candy and Chewing Gum in Bathroom

One is not allowed to eat in a restroom. Does this apply to actually putting food into one's mouth or merely having food in one's mouth? If I am chewing gum and want to go to the bathroom, is it ...
Tzvi's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can one recite prayers or learn torah while facing a bathroom whose door is open?

Do you have to close the bathroom door that you are in the vicinity of before being able to recite blessings or learn torah? Does it suffice to simply turn your back towards the bathroom door? For ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.3k
7 votes
1 answer
481 views

What are the standards for bathroom design?

Starting from scratch in building a multiple occupancy bathroom, what standards should be maintained in its design and construction? There are plenty of relevant halachos regarding modesty and proper ...
WAF's user avatar
  • 23.9k
7 votes
3 answers
770 views

Unusual applications of Asher Yatzar

Does the blessing of Asher Yatzar (normally said upon using the bathroom) apply in other situations. For example in passing a kidney or gallstone? A woman who's water breaks or passes her mucus plug? ...
user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
580 views

A restroom in a formerly-kosher eatery vs. one in a never-kosher eatery: which is preferable?

Say I'm on the road traveling, and I need to use a restroom. Which of the following two restrooms is preferable? One in a restaurant that used to be kosher, but is now non-kosher. One in a restaurant ...
Ken's user avatar
  • 3,824
7 votes
1 answer
261 views

Gedolim books in the bathroom

Is it permissible to read gedolim books in the bathroom or is it forbidden? Would it change the Halacha based off what the contents of the book are? For example, some of these books just contain ...
user25895's user avatar
  • 184
7 votes
1 answer
556 views

May one "use the facilities" outdoors on shabbat?

May one urinate on the lawn on shabbat, or is that forbidden the same way that watering it is forbidden? What about defecation? Feces may or may not contain nutrients that are beneficial to the soil ...
Adam Mosheh's user avatar
  • 6,039
7 votes
2 answers
632 views

Washing after the bathroom from a running faucet -- any point?

After using the bathroom some folks let the water run (without opening and closing the faucet) and pass each hand under the faucet 3 times alternating between the right and left hands. Since there's ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.3k
7 votes
2 answers
330 views

Inappropriate kavanah during "asher yatzar"

I don't know if other people have experienced this, but when reciting asher yatzar immediately after going to the bathroom, I find that if I meditate upon the meaning of the words I cannot help but ...
Shimon bM's user avatar
  • 19k
7 votes
1 answer
297 views

Tzitzis In the Bathroom

Are you allowed to make Tzitzis In the Bathroom?
SimchasTorah's user avatar
  • 33.4k
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Proper way for a man to urinate while standing

Maran HaShulḥan 'Arukh, citing the Talmud Bavli (Niddah 13B), states that a man must avoid holding his member when urinating (Oraḥ Ḥayim 3:14). That is, holding me'atarah u'lema'alah is forbidden ...
Lee's user avatar
  • 7,482
6 votes
1 answer
150 views

Brocho BEFORE going to the bathroom

I've heard from some lecture that some keep a minhag to have a special prayer before going to the bathroom. If there is such a thing - what is it and where to find it?
Roman Kagan's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Use of an automatic toilet on Shabbos?

Can one use on Shabbos an automatic toilet with an electric sensor that triggers the flushing mechanism when you are done? For example in a hotel lobby, or a public building. Assume there is no other ...
alicht's user avatar
  • 12.2k
6 votes
1 answer
437 views

If a Tallit is thoughtlessly brought into a bathroom, is it still ok?

If a Tallit was thoughtlessly taken into a bathroom - for example to remove a stain - is it defiled, or can it still be used?
elle's user avatar
  • 69
6 votes
4 answers
776 views

Shalom Aleichem to angels?

The zemer "Shalom Aleichem" is obviously addressed to angels. The Tur (OC Siman 3) gives a short text to says before entering the bathroom: התכבדו מכובדים משרתי עליון, etc. (also obviously addressed ...
b a's user avatar
  • 25.1k
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Halachos of the bathroom

Can someone give a rundown of the halachos of conducting one's self in the bathroom ( including how much one can remove his clothing ? )
sye81397's user avatar
  • 783
6 votes
2 answers
464 views

Is it better to skip Asher Yotzar, or to say it without washing?

Ideally, one would always do ritual handwashing (netilas yadayim) and say Asher Yotzar after going to the bathroom. (Source: Shulchan Aruch OC 4:18 for handwashing; here for asher yatzar) However, in ...
SAH's user avatar
  • 20.1k
6 votes
2 answers
733 views

Bathroom or shema if you only have time for one?

If you wake up 5 minutes before sof zman kryat shema and you have to use the bathroom. Going to the bathroom when necessary is deorayasa (Shulchan Aruch 3:17) and so is saying the shema. Also there ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.3k
6 votes
1 answer
127 views

Less disgraceful placement of a sefer kodesh?

Suppose I find myself in a public building, in need of a restroom, with a chumash in my hand that is too large to fit in a pocket. Outside the restroom, in a painted cinderblock hallway, there is no ...
WAF's user avatar
  • 23.9k
6 votes
3 answers
580 views

What are the parameters for washing after excusing one's self in the middle of the meal?

If I recall correctly from Chayei Adam and elsewhere, if you're in the middle of a bread-based meal and excuse yourself to defecate, first of all you should wash with soap and water for hygienic ...
Shalom's user avatar
  • 135k
6 votes
1 answer
385 views

What's the minimum amount of work necessary to recite "Asher Yatzar" after using the bathroom in the middle of the night?

If one woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, what is the least amount of work one must do (e.g. just rinse the finger tips or rub the hands against one's clothing) that would allow ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.3k