[Avodah] Appearance vs. Reality

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

One of the topics that comes up here every now and again is the idea that in halacha, the way something appears could be more important than the way it actually is. A common example of this is that if tefilin appear to be not square, then it is pasul even if one measures and proves that it really is square.

I came across another interesting example of this, which I'd like to share with the group for their comments.

Mechaber 78:1 -- One was saying the Shema and urine began dripping on his legs - he must pause until until (2) the urine stops. Then he can continue  - even if it got on his clothes and they are really wet (tofeach al m'nas l'hatpiach) - because they [the wet garments] are covered by (3) an outer garment.

MB 78:2 -- The urine: Even though his legs below are still damp from the urine, it is mutar.

MB 78:3 -- Outer garment: That is, the outer garment is not dirty. But if it too got dirty, then for Shema and other Divrei Kedusha, he has to go and remove that clothing, or at least cover the dirty area with some other garment...

If I'm reading this right, then even though the person's leg is actually wet from his urine, he can continue saying his Shema, provided that the outermost garments are dry.

This is amazing to me. His body is dirty, but because he *looks* okay on the outermost level, that's what seems to count most. If someone has an alternate explanation, I'd love to hear it.

And the mussar implications could be even more mind-boggling...

Akiva Miller

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