[Avodah] pump toilet

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Aug 12, 2025 at 05:50:47PM -0400, Joel Rich via Avodah wrote:
> May (one should) lchatchila build a below grade pump toilet knowing that it
> will be used on Shabbat?

According to the Taz (OC 340:2), pesiq reisha is derabbanan. In which
case, it may even be mutar to flush the toilet, by parallel to carrying
a rock for use in post-bathroom hygiene (when there is nothing prepared),
or tearing an off-size section of toilet paper for the same purpose.

I don't think this is the majority shitah... Like among rishonim,
it's more common to say only pesiaq reisha delo nicha lei that's
derabbanan. See Rambam Hil' Shabbos 1:6, SA se'if 18 (and the BY's
discussion), Ran (end of Shabbaos ch. 14), Ritva (Sukkah 33b). And I'm
sure others.

(And then in the Taz's sources, PR delo nicha lei is actually mutar.)

So if pesiq reisha is deOraisa, is putting in the toilet lifnei iveir,
or at least mesayeia' - since that toilet is bound to be built either way,
maybe the issur is not "mei'eiver hanahar" without you?

This case is unlike a retaurant serving someone who won't bentch,
also enabling the biolation of a deOraisa, because in the case of the
restaurant you have to be afraid that someone who wouldn't bentch might
also not buy kosher if you are not convenient.

Good question. Just wanted to point out the Taz's shitah even if I do
not think it's din. Maybe a poseiq would use it as a snif lehaqeil if
there are other snifim.


Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 People were created to be loved.
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   Things were created to be used.
Author: Widen Your Tent      The reason why the world is in chaos is that
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF    things are being loved, people are being used.